The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to Albany International BUF → ALB

217 nautical miles (250 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 102° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 63-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 7 knots; ALB is low IFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 25 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the whole route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 148 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 128 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 118 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 13,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from BUF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • DH8D at 19,000 ft, 12 nm north, 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. 49 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROC
    Where
    over ROC
    Time
    23:35 UTC
    Height
    at 19,000 ft
    Aircraft
    DH8D
    Turbulence
    continuous moderate chop
    Remarks
    zob
  • E75 at 34,000 ft, 12 nm north, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): moderate turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    RME UA /OV UCA/TM 2315/FL340/TP E75/TB CONS MOD
    Report
    a routine report filed through RME
    Where
    over UCA
    Time
    23:15 UTC
    Height
    at 34,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E75
    Turbulence
    continuous moderate
  • A21N at 35,000 ft, 12 nm north, 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC): moderate turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    RME UA /OV UCA/TM 2257/FL350/TP A21N/TB CONS MOD
    Report
    a routine report filed through RME
    Where
    over UCA
    Time
    22:57 UTC
    Height
    at 35,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A21N
    Turbulence
    continuous moderate
  • PC12 at 8,000 ft, 41 nm south, 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. 207 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    POU UA /OV IGN340030/TM 2329/FL080/TP PC12/TB MOD CAT
    Report
    a routine report filed through POU
    Where
    30 nm north (340°) of IGN
    Time
    23:29 UTC
    Height
    at 8,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Turbulence
    moderate clear-air turbulence
  • CRJ7 at 20,000 ft, 37 nm northeast, 8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 37 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ALB UA /OV CAM360020/TM 0050/FL200/TP CRJ7/TB MOD
    Report
    a routine report filed through ALB
    Where
    20 nm north (360°) of CAM
    Time
    00:50 UTC
    Height
    at 20,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Turbulence
    moderate
  • GLEX at 26,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. At the destination end, 25 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ALB UA /OV CAM/TM 2354/FL260/TP GLEX/TB MOD CAT 260-230 LGT MOD CAT BLO 230
    Report
    a routine report filed through ALB
    Where
    over CAM
    Time
    23:54 UTC
    Height
    at 26,000 ft
    Aircraft
    GLEX
    Turbulence
    moderate clear-air turbulence from 26,000 ft to 23,000 ft light moderate clear-air turbulence below 23,000 ft
  • E75S at 10,000 ft, 45 nm south, 7:53 pm EDT (23:53 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. At the destination end, 45 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    POU UA /OV PWL350015/TM 2353/FL100/TP E75S/TB MOD CAT
    Report
    a routine report filed through POU
    Where
    15 nm north (350°) of PWL
    Time
    23:53 UTC
    Height
    at 10,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E75S
    Turbulence
    moderate clear-air turbulence
  • A388 at 34,000 ft, 30 nm south, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 30 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    POU UA /OV PWL010030/TM 2319/FL340/TP A388/TB MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through POU
    Where
    30 nm north (010°) of PWL
    Time
    23:19 UTC
    Height
    at 34,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A388
    Turbulence
    moderate chop
  • A21N at 30,000 ft, 27 nm south, 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    JHW UA /OV JHW050025/TM 2336/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through JHW
    Where
    25 nm northeast (050°) of JHW
    Time
    23:36 UTC
    Height
    at 30,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A21N
    Turbulence
    light to moderate chop
    Remarks
    zob
  • A319 at 4,300 ft, 20 nm west, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): overcast above 4,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 20 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BUF UA /OV BUF270020/TM 2314/FL043/TP A319/SK OVC 043/RM DURD
    Report
    a routine report filed through BUF
    Where
    20 nm west (270°) of BUF
    Time
    23:14 UTC
    Height
    at 4,300 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Sky
    overcast from 4,300 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent
  • B738 at 4,700 ft, 6 nm south, 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC): a broken layer from 4,700 ft to 5,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. 10 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BUF UA /OV BUF140010/TM 0059/FL047/TP B738/SK BKN 047 TOPS 053/RM DURD
    Report
    a routine report filed through BUF
    Where
    10 nm southeast (140°) of BUF
    Time
    00:59 UTC
    Height
    at 4,700 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Sky
    a broken layer from 4,700 ft, tops 5,300 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent
  • B38M at 500 ft, 12 nm north, 7:52 pm EDT (23:52 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. 49 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2352/FL005/TP B38M/SK BKN005-TOPUNKN
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROC
    Where
    over ROC
    Time
    23:52 UTC
    Height
    at 500 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Sky
    a broken layer from 500 ft, tops unknown
  • E145 at 2,500 ft, 11 nm north, 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC): overcast above 2,700 ft. 59 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROC UA /OV ROC110010/TM 2304/FL025/TP E145/SK OVC027
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROC
    Where
    10 nm east (110°) of ROC
    Time
    23:04 UTC
    Height
    at 2,500 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
    Sky
    overcast from 2,700 ft
  • A320 at 20,000 ft, 4 nm west, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): light to moderate rime icing from 15,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -15 °C, remarks: zob. 89 nm along the route, 4 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SYR UA /OV SYR250030/TM 0008/FL200/TP A320/TA M15/IC LGT-MOD RIME 200-150/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through SYR
    Where
    30 nm west (250°) of SYR
    Time
    00:08 UTC
    Height
    at 20,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Temperature
    −15 °C
    Icing
    light to moderate rime from 20,000 ft to 15,000 ft
    Remarks
    zob

9 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 3 forecast points nearest it (BUF, SYR, ALB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft170° at 19 kt+5 kt115 kt1 h 53 min11:48 pm EDT (03:48 UTC)
5,500 ft190° at 15 kt−2 kt122 kt1 h 47 min11:42 pm EDT (03:42 UTC)
7,500 ft200° at 13 kt−5 kt8 °C125 kt1 h 44 min11:39 pm EDT (03:39 UTC)
9,500 ft220° at 10 kt−6 kt5 °C126 kt1 h 43 min11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
11,500 ft230° at 9 kt−6 kt3 °C126 kt1 h 43 min11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
13,500 ft240° at 10 kt−8 kt-1 °C128 kt1 h 42 min11:37 pm EDT (03:37 UTC)
15,500 ft240° at 12 kt−11 kt-5 °C131 kt1 h 39 min11:34 pm EDT (03:34 UTC)
17,500 ft250° at 15 kt−13 kt-9 °C133 kt1 h 38 min11:33 pm EDT (03:33 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180250° at 15 kt−14 kt-10 °C134 kt1 h 37 min11:32 pm EDT (03:32 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 32 kt−23 kt-20 °C143 kt1 h 31 min11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300220° at 61 kt−40 kt-35 °C160 kt1 h 21 min11:16 pm EDT (03:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340230° at 82 kt−63 kt-42 °C183 kt1 h 11 min11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390230° at 78 kt−61 kt-51 °C181 kt1 h 12 min11:07 pm EDT (03:07 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
BUFused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line170/19L/V 10°040/9 6°220/8 2°230/15 -11°220/33 -22°220/47 -35°230/55 -41°230/56 -50°
SYRused from 49 nm out; 43 nm from the line160/17200/22 10°250/10 6°L/V 1°270/11 -11°220/25 -20°220/66 -36°230/89 -42°240/74 -51°
ALBused from 148 nm out; 44 nm from the line160/27190/16 9°200/29 7°230/21 3°240/24 -9°240/43 -19°230/65 -33°240/91 -42°230/99 -53°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
BUF Buffalo, NY departure VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet from the east (090°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 5,000 ft 726 ft 8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC)
GVQ Batavia, NY 20 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet from the west-northwest (290°) at 22 knots, gusting to 27 10+ mi none 913 ft 14:56 UTC
ROC Rochester, NY 49 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 5,000 ft 558 ft 00:54 UTC
SYR Syracuse, NY 118 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain from the east-northeast (060°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 5,500 ft 421 ft 00:54 UTC
RME Rome, NY 148 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: rain from the east (100°) at 6 knots 7 mi 1,400 ft 504 ft 01:19 UTC
ALB Albany, NY destination low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots 4 mi 400 ft 284 ft 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 913 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ALB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR

The whole forecast for ALB
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 2,500 feet
  • At times between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 800 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 1½ miles, light drizzle, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for BUF, the departure
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
  • From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ALB is before sunrise there (7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Buffalo Niagara International, Albany International.