Charleston Afb/Intl Airport to Chicago O'Hare International CHS → ORD
661 nautical miles (761 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 328°, about 335° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 4,102 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 168 to 227 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 197 to 326 nm out.
- 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 route from 237 to 365 nm out.
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 CHS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PA32 at 7,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 8:17 pm EDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. 89 nm along the route, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGS UA /OV KAIK360010/TM 0017/FL070/TP PA32/WX FV99SM/TA 8/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGS
- Where
- 10 nm north (360°) of KAIK
- Time
- 00:17 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA32
- Weather
- flight visibility 99 miles
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Remarks
- smooth
- S22T descending, 20 nm northeast, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 247 nm along the route, 20 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 23 tri
- B737 at 35,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 316 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOZ
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
- Time
- 01:25 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- B712 at 600 ft, 17 nm southwest, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 385 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- A21N at 17,000 ft, 47 nm southwest, 9:28 pm EDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 474 nm along the route, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 45 nm south (183°) of IND
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- clear
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- clear since departing KIND southbound
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 631 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
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 (CHS, CAE, GSP, TRI, CVG, IND, JOT). 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 | 320° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 29 min | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 37 min | 4:43 am CDT (09:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 49 min | 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 45 min | 4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 3 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 45 min | 4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | +23 kt | -1 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 49 min | 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 57 min | 5:03 am CDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 7 h 02 min | 5:08 am CDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -19 °C | 90 kt | 7 h 21 min | 5:27 am CDT (10:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -34 °C | 87 kt | 7 h 36 min | 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 44 kt | +40 kt | -41 °C | 80 kt | 8 h 16 min | 6:22 am CDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 42 kt | +39 kt | -49 °C | 81 kt | 8 h 10 min | 6:16 am CDT (11:16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -52° |
| CAE | used from 49 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
| GSP | used from 148 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| TRI | used from 197 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| CVG | used from 345 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| IND | used from 493 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 592 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS Charleston, SC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC) |
| MNI Manning, SC | 39 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 102 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | 79 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 197 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 247 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 1,518 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 316 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 1,256 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 385 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 434 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| AID Anderson, IN | 513 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | none | 919 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 552 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 631 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 02:50 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for CHS, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 434 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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: Charleston Afb/Intl Airport, Chicago O'Hare International.