Buffalo Niagara International to Laurence G Hanscom Field BUF → BED
329 nautical miles (379 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 092°, about 103° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:56 am EDT (09:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots; BED is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 9 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: 27 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 260 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 160 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing from 12,000 ft to 24,000 ft. Near the route, 260 nm along 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
- B763 descending, 27 nm north, 2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MHT UA /OV KMHT/TM 0621/FLDURD/TP B763/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through MHT
- Where
- over KMHT
- Time
- 06:21 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- B763 descending, 27 nm north, 1:55 am EDT (05:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MHT UA /OV RWY 35/TM 0555/FLDURD/TP B763/SK 004-005 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through MHT
- Where
- runway 35
- Time
- 05:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- from 400 ft to 500 ft ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (BUF, SYR, ALB, BDL, BOS). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | light and variable | +1 kt | 119 kt | 2 h 46 min | 6:47 am EDT (10:47 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 8 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 2 h 37 min | 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 9 kt | −7 kt | 8 °C | 127 kt | 2 h 35 min | 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 9 kt | −8 kt | 5 °C | 128 kt | 2 h 34 min | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 3 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 28 min | 6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -1 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 23 min | 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 20 min | 6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -10 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 16 min | 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -11 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 15 min | 6:16 am EDT (10:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 32 kt | −28 kt | -22 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 13 min | 6:14 am EDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | −38 kt | -36 °C | 158 kt | 2 h 05 min | 6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 58 kt | −49 kt | -42 °C | 169 kt | 1 h 57 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 62 kt | −51 kt | -51 °C | 171 kt | 1 h 55 min | 5:56 am EDT (09:56 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| SYR | used from 50 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| ALB | used from 150 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| BDL | used from 250 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| BOS | used from 299 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 110/20 | 200/26 12° | 280/24 8° | 260/29 3° | 250/47 -10° | 230/59 -19° | 230/74 -33° | 240/95 -41° | 240/96 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Buffalo, NY | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,200 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 726 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 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 | 50 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 3,900 ft | 558 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SYR Syracuse, NY | 110 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 421 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| VGC Hamilton, NY | 140 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 300 ft | 1,136 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| ALB Albany, NY | 220 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 284 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| CEF Springfield/Chicopee, MA | 280 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 241 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| ORH Worcester, MA | 309 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,009 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| BED Bedford, MA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 6 mi | 300 ft | 132 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,136 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BED when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:56 am EDT (09:56 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BED
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
The forecast for BUF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8802 Foxborough, MA, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZBW
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at BED 6:08 pm EDT (22:08 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BED is before sunrise there (6:54 am EDT (10:54 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
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, Laurence G Hanscom Field.