The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 8:06 am EDT (12:06 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to St. Louis Downtown Airport BUF → CPS

581 nautical miles (669 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 247°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 12:17 pm CDT (17:17 UTC). Right now BUF is IFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots; CPS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 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: 5 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 374 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 10 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

  • B38M at 37,000 ft, 28 nm southeast, 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC): -48 °C, wind 335° at 62 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 28 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    OLE UA /OV GEE249029 /TM 1136 /FL370 /TP B38M /TA M48 /WV 33562KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
    Report
    a routine report filed through OLE
    Where
    29 nm west (249°) of GEE
    Time
    11:36 UTC
    Height
    at 37,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Temperature
    −48 °C
    Wind
    from 335° at 62 knots
    Remarks
    produced by skypath
  • A321 at 32,000 ft, 48 nm east, 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: occasional moderate from syr to iag zob. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1104/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM OCNL MOD FROM SYR TO IAG ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROC
    Where
    over ROC
    Time
    11:04 UTC
    Height
    at 32,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A321
    Turbulence
    continuous light occasional moderate
    Remarks
    occasional moderate from syr to iag zob
  • B738 climbing, 0 nm southwest, 6:20 am EDT (10:20 UTC): overcast from 2,500 ft to 4,200 ft; scattered clouds above 700 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BUF UA /OV BUF/TM 1020/FLDURC/TP B738/SK SCT007 OVC025 TOPS042
    Report
    a routine report filed through BUF
    Where
    over BUF
    Time
    10:20 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    B738
    Sky
    SCT007 OVC025 TOPS042
  • A319 at 3,000 ft, 42 nm east, 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC): overcast above 3,000 ft, remarks: bases 3,000 ft tops 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROC UA /OV ROC220010/TM 1017/FL030/TP A319/SK 030 OVC/RM BASES 030 TOPS 040
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROC
    Where
    10 nm southwest (220°) of ROC
    Time
    10:17 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Sky
    at 3,000 ft overcast
    Remarks
    bases 3,000 ft tops 4,000 ft
  • AC90 at 2,000 ft, 22 nm south, 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 2,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 22 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ERI UA /OV JUNOG/TM 1105/FL020/TP AC90/SK OVC020-TOP040
    Report
    a routine report filed through ERI
    Where
    junog
    Time
    11:05 UTC
    Height
    at 2,000 ft
    Aircraft
    AC90
    Sky
    overcast from 2,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
  • AC90 at 2,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC): remarks: bases reported at at 2,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ERI UA /OV KERI/TM 1105/FL020/TP AC90/RM BASES REPORTED AT 020
    Report
    a routine report filed through ERI
    Where
    over KERI
    Time
    11:05 UTC
    Height
    at 2,000 ft
    Aircraft
    AC90
    Remarks
    bases reported at at 2,000 ft
  • UAL2759 at 35,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC): no turbulence, wind 313° at 72 knots. 148 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ARP UAL2759 4155N 08149W 1114 F350 313/072KT TB SMTH IC
    Report
    a routine report filed through ARP
  • C680 descending, 28 nm southeast, 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 168 nm along the route, 28 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CLE UA /OV DURD/TM 1153/FLDURD/TP C680/SK B022
    Report
    a routine report filed through CLE
    Where
    over DURD
    Time
    11:53 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    C680
    Sky
    B022
  • BE40 descending, 29 nm south, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 168 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CLE UA /OV CLE230005/TM 1103/FLDURD/TP BE40/SK B020 T031
    Report
    a routine report filed through CLE
    Where
    5 nm southwest (230°) of CLE
    Time
    11:03 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    BE40
    Sky
    B020 T031
  • A21N descending, 29 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): no turbulence, 12 °C. 168 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CLE UA /OV CLE230005/TM 1011/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK B018 T035/TA +12/TB SMOOTH
    Report
    a routine report filed through CLE
    Where
    5 nm southwest (230°) of CLE
    Time
    10:11 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A21N
    Sky
    B018 T035
    Temperature
    +12
    Turbulence
    smooth
  • B717 at 400 ft, 45 nm north, 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC): remarks: bases 400 ft during the descent. 207 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 1123/FL004/TP B717/RM BASES 004 DURD
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    over DTW
    Time
    11:23 UTC
    Height
    at 400 ft
    Aircraft
    B717
    Remarks
    bases 400 ft during the descent
  • BE58 climbing, 21 nm northwest, 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 236 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1134/FLDURC/TP BE58/SK B002 T018
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    11:34 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    BE58
    Sky
    B002 T018
  • MD83 at 2,500 ft, 21 nm northwest, 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. 236 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    10:43 UTC
    Height
    at 2,500 ft
    Aircraft
    MD83
    Remarks
    base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
  • A320 at 30,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 7:49 am EDT (11:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent FL300-260 FL250 better. 315 nm along the route, 37 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ASW UA /OV OLK/TM 1149/FL300/TP A320/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM DURD FL300-260 FL250 BETTER
    Report
    a routine report filed through ASW
    Where
    over OLK
    Time
    11:49 UTC
    Height
    at 30,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop
    Remarks
    during the descent FL300-260 FL250 better

7 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 6 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA, IND, SPI, STL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft290° at 15 kt+11 kt109 kt5 h 20 min12:26 pm CDT (17:26 UTC)
6,500 ft300° at 14 kt+8 kt13 °C112 kt5 h 11 min12:17 pm CDT (17:17 UTC)
8,500 ft300° at 14 kt+8 kt10 °C112 kt5 h 11 min12:17 pm CDT (17:17 UTC)
10,500 ft300° at 16 kt+10 kt6 °C110 kt5 h 17 min12:23 pm CDT (17:23 UTC)
12,500 ft300° at 19 kt+12 kt2 °C108 kt5 h 23 min12:29 pm CDT (17:29 UTC)
14,500 ft300° at 22 kt+12 kt-1 °C108 kt5 h 23 min12:29 pm CDT (17:29 UTC)
16,500 ft300° at 24 kt+13 kt-5 °C107 kt5 h 26 min12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180300° at 27 kt+13 kt-8 °C107 kt5 h 26 min12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240300° at 29 kt+16 kt-20 °C104 kt5 h 35 min12:41 pm CDT (17:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300300° at 39 kt+20 kt-35 °C100 kt5 h 49 min12:55 pm CDT (17:55 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340310° at 52 kt+24 kt-43 °C96 kt6 h 03 min1:09 pm CDT (18:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390310° at 61 kt+24 kt-51 °C96 kt6 h 03 min1:09 pm CDT (18:09 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 line300/11330/15 11°340/26 8°330/28 2°340/31 -10°340/32 -21°340/52 -37°340/59 -46°330/66 -53°
CLEused from 99 nm out; 49 nm from the line310/7350/20 14°340/16 9°320/21 2°320/32 -8°330/34 -20°330/45 -36°320/60 -45°320/64 -51°
FWAused from 246 nm out; 43 nm from the line270/20300/16 15°290/14 10°280/17 3°290/25 -7°280/30 -19°280/34 -35°290/48 -44°300/64 -52°
INDused from 345 nm out; 35 nm from the line270/22290/19 15°270/19 8°270/18 4°290/28 -7°280/35 -20°270/37 -34°300/51 -42°300/61 -51°
SPIused from 443 nm out; 78 nm from the line260/28250/22 15°250/14 9°260/20 6°280/27 -7°280/34 -19°280/48 -32°280/59 -41°300/60 -49°
STLused from 542 nm out; 27 nm from the line250/26240/21 15°240/22 11°250/23 6°270/28 -7°260/30 -19°280/52 -31°280/57 -40°300/57 -49°

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 IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots 4 mi 600 ft 726 ft 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC)
DKK Dunkirk, NY 30 nm out, 16 nm south of the line marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet from the west (270°) at 8 knots 7 mi 1,600 ft 692 ft 11:53 UTC
ERI Erie, PA 79 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet variable at 4 knots 10+ mi 3,000 ft 732 ft 00:51 UTC
BKL Cleveland, OH 158 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 1,200 ft 583 ft 11:53 UTC
PCW Port Clinton, OH 207 nm out, 5 nm east of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 800 ft 590 ft 11:55 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH 236 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots 1 mi 300 ft 683 ft 11:52 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN 315 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet Weather: mist from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots 3 mi 25,000 ft 814 ft 11:54 UTC
GUS Peru, IN 355 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 810 ft 11:55 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN 443 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR calm 9 mi none 589 ft 11:53 UTC
MTO Mattoon/Charleston, IL 483 nm out, 6 nm north of the line VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 722 ft 11:53 UTC
VLA Vandalia, IL 532 nm out, 4 nm east of the line no report just now 537 ft
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL destination VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 412 ft 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 814 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:17 pm CDT (17:17 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CPS
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BUF, the departure
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Tue 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 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 CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 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 now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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, St. Louis Downtown Airport.