Lovell Field to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport CHA → MSP
696 nautical miles (801 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 331°, about 336° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHA is VFR, wind calm; MSP is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 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: 2 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 first 219 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
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 CHA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 6 nm south, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 139 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 457 nm along the route, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BNA, EVV, SPI, BRL, DBQ, LSE, MSP). 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 | 260° at 19 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 6 h 06 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +9 kt | 16 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 16 min | 4:43 am CDT (09:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 11 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 27 min | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | +12 kt | 8 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 27 min | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | +11 kt | 4 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 23 min | 4:50 am CDT (09:50 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | +13 kt | 0 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 30 min | 4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | +15 kt | -4 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 38 min | 5:05 am CDT (10:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 21 kt | +16 kt | -7 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 42 min | 5:09 am CDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 23 kt | +18 kt | -19 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 49 min | 5:16 am CDT (10:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | +25 kt | -33 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 20 min | 5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 47 kt | +39 kt | -42 °C | 81 kt | 8 h 36 min | 7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 50 kt | +44 kt | -52 °C | 76 kt | 9 h 09 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNA | used from 0 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| EVV | used from 149 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| SPI | used from 298 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| BRL | used from 398 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 447 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| LSE | used from 547 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| MSP | used from 646 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
| RNC Mc Minnville, TN | 50 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,031 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BWG Bowling Green, KY | 129 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 547 ft | 03:01 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 189 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 407 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 209 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 421 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 338 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 681 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 398 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 457 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 507 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 626 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 8 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| SYN Stanton, MN | 666 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 920 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 841 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
The forecast for CHA, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 23 nm from the route, 109 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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
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: Lovell Field, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.