Plan a flight · Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to Rickenbacker International BUF → LCK

266 nautical miles (307 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 227°, about 238° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC). Right now BUF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots; LCK is IFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 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: 3 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the whole route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 39 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

A320 at 900 ft, 14 nm northwest, 10:38 am EDT (14:38 UTC): remarks: drud. At the departure end, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAG UA /OV KIAG/TM 1438/FL009/TP A320/SK BASES 009 TOPS UNKN/RM DRUD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAG
Where
over KIAG
Time
14:38 UTC
Height
at 900 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
bases 900 ft tops unknown
Remarks
drud
H25B at 500 ft, 14 nm northwest, 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC): remarks: drud. At the departure end, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAG UA /OV KIAG/TM 1428/FL005/TP H25B/SK BASES 005 TOPS UNKN/RM DRUD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAG
Where
over KIAG
Time
14:28 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
H25B
Sky
bases 500 ft tops unknown
Remarks
drud
CRJ9 at 3,500 ft, 48 nm east, 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1423/FL035/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS 035
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
14:23 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops 3,500 ft
CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 48 nm east, 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1423/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
14:23 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,000 ft
K35R at 900 ft, 14 nm northwest, 9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC): remarks: druc. At the departure end, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAG UA /OV KIAG/TM 1357/FL009/TP K35R/SK BASES 009 TOPS UNKN/RM DRUC
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAG
Where
over KIAG
Time
13:57 UTC
Height
at 900 ft
Aircraft
K35R
Sky
bases 900 ft tops unknown
Remarks
druc
CRJ9 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm southwest, 9:26 am EDT (13:26 UTC): remarks: during the descent, ils runway 23. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV KBUF/TM 1326/FL011/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 600 AGL/RM DURD, ILS RWY 23
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
over KBUF
Time
13:26 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 60,000 ft above ground
Remarks
during the descent, ils runway 23
E75L at 3,500 ft, 48 nm east, 9:25 am EDT (13:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1325/FL035/TP E75L/SK TOPS 035 BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
13:25 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
tops 3,500 ft bases 600 ft
B737 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC): remarks: during the descent, ils runway 23. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV KBUF/TM 1245/FL011/TP B737/SK B011/RM DURD, ILS RWY 23
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
over KBUF
Time
12:45 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
B011
Remarks
during the descent, ils runway 23
B737 at 3,200 ft, 10 nm northeast, 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF050010/TM 1240/FL032/TP B737/SK BASES 011 TOPS 032
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm northeast (050°) of BUF
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 3,200 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
bases 1,100 ft tops 3,200 ft
F2TH at 800 ft, 47 nm east, 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC): overcast above 800 ft, remarks: tops 3,700 ft bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC190005/TM 1213/FL008/TP F2TH/SK 008 OVC/RM TOPS 037 BASES 008
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
5 nm south (190°) of ROC
Time
12:13 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Sky
at 800 ft overcast
Remarks
tops 3,700 ft bases 800 ft
CRJ9 at 1,300 ft, 4 nm northeast, 9:13 am EDT (13:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV PLAZZ/TM 1313/FL013/TP CRJ9/SK BNK013 TOPS 033
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
plazz
Time
13:13 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
BNK013 tops 3,300 ft
H25B at 2,800 ft, 8 nm northwest, 10:15 am EDT (14:15 UTC): remarks: bases reported ar at 2,800 ft. 79 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ERI UA /OV KERI/TM 1415/FL028/TP H25B/RM BASES REPORTED AR 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through ERI
Where
over KERI
Time
14:15 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
H25B
Remarks
bases reported ar at 2,800 ft
PA46 climbing, 5 nm west, 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 89 nm along the route, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV ERI180005/TM 1303/FLDURC/TP PA46/SK BASES 013 TOPS 035
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
5 nm south (180°) of ERI
Time
13:03 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
PA46
Sky
bases 1,300 ft tops 3,500 ft
CRJ7 climbing, 8 nm northwest, 8:29 am EDT (12:29 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 4,000 ft. 89 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV ERI/TM 1229/FLDURC/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 016 TOPS 040
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
over ERI
Time
12:29 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 4,000 ft

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, CMH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	280° at 20 kt	+12 kt		108 kt	2 h 28 min	1:28 pm EDT (17:28 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	+10 kt	13 °C	110 kt	2 h 25 min	1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 24 kt	+11 kt	10 °C	109 kt	2 h 26 min	1:26 pm EDT (17:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 25 kt	+9 kt	6 °C	111 kt	2 h 24 min	1:24 pm EDT (17:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 27 kt	+8 kt	2 °C	112 kt	2 h 22 min	1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 27 kt	+9 kt	-2 °C	111 kt	2 h 24 min	1:24 pm EDT (17:24 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 28 kt	+10 kt	-5 °C	110 kt	2 h 25 min	1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 28 kt	+10 kt	-8 °C	110 kt	2 h 25 min	1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 33 kt	+16 kt	-21 °C	104 kt	2 h 33 min	1:33 pm EDT (17:33 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 41 kt	+21 kt	-36 °C	99 kt	2 h 41 min	1:41 pm EDT (17:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 49 kt	+25 kt	-45 °C	95 kt	2 h 48 min	1:48 pm EDT (17:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 58 kt	+13 kt	-49 °C	107 kt	2 h 29 min	1:29 pm EDT (17:29 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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	270/25	300/28 14°	300/29 8°	310/29 2°	300/30 -9°	290/33 -21°	290/44 -37°	290/56 -47°	300/62 -51°
CLE	used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line	280/17	270/17 14°	280/22 10°	290/26 4°	290/25 -8°	280/31 -21°	280/35 -36°	280/43 -44°	300/53 -48°
CMH	used from 197 nm out; 36 nm from the line	270/15	280/20 14°	280/21 9°	290/26 4°	290/29 -7°	290/38 -20°	280/44 -35°	280/48 -42°	310/61 -48°

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	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	726 ft	10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC)
DKK Dunkirk, NY	39 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	692 ft	14:53 UTC
ERI Erie, PA	79 nm out, 8 nm northwest 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
YNG Youngstown/Warren, OH	128 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	8 mi	1,500 ft	1,191 ft	14:51 UTC
CAK Akron, OH	168 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	8 mi	900 ft	1,225 ft	14:51 UTC
BJJ Wooster, OH	187 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	1,135 ft	14:56 UTC
VTA Newark, OH	247 nm out, 8 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet	variable at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	883 ft	14:54 UTC
LCK Columbus, OH	destination	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	743 ft	9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,225 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LCK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LCK

From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
At times between Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): overcast at 400 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 118 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 128 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 138 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at LCK 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Rickenbacker International.