Buffalo Niagara International to Willow Run Airport BUF → YIP
216 nautical miles (249 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 260°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC). Right now BUF is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots; YIP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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: 14 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). Over the whole 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
- 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
- A21N at 35,000 ft, 49 nm southeast, 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 49 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV GEE190015/TM 0852/FL350/TP A21N/TB LGHT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- 15 nm south (190°) of GEE
- Time
- 08:52 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- lght-mod chop
- Remarks
- zob
- B739 at 9,000 ft, 17 nm north, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. 197 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- 26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
- Time
- 10:33 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- clear
- Wind
- from 295° at 13 knots
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 2 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE). 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 | 330° at 12 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 1 h 52 min | 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 18 kt | +2 kt | 12 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 50 min | 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 20 kt | +3 kt | 9 °C | 117 kt | 1 h 51 min | 8:33 am EDT (12:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 1 h 55 min | 8:37 am EDT (12:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +10 kt | 1 °C | 110 kt | 1 h 58 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | +10 kt | -2 °C | 110 kt | 1 h 58 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | +11 kt | -6 °C | 109 kt | 1 h 59 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 31 kt | +11 kt | -9 °C | 109 kt | 1 h 59 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 33 kt | +8 kt | -20 °C | 112 kt | 1 h 56 min | 8:38 am EDT (12:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 48 kt | +12 kt | -36 °C | 108 kt | 2 h | 8:42 am EDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 59 kt | +20 kt | -45 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 10 min | 8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 65 kt | +27 kt | -52 °C | 93 kt | 2 h 19 min | 9:01 am EDT (13:01 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
| 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 | 300/11 | 330/15 11° | 340/26 8° | 330/28 2° | 340/31 -10° | 340/32 -21° | 340/52 -37° | 340/59 -46° | 330/66 -53° |
| CLE | used from 98 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
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 500 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 726 ft | 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC) |
| CYSN St Catharines, | 20 nm out, 18 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the east (080°) at 6 knots | 15 mi | 5,000 ft | 321 ft | 01:00 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 108 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| DET Detroit, MI | 187 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 9 mi | 800 ft | 624 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| YIP Detroit, MI | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | none | 715 ft | 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 776 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At YIP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for YIP
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 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, Willow Run Airport.