The Eastern Iowa Airport to Detroit Metro Wayne County CID → DTW
373 nautical miles (429 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CID is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; DTW is IFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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: 7 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 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 59 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 157 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 CID.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 140 kt | 2 h 40 min | 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 2 h 41 min | 6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 12 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 46 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | −11 kt | 9 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 51 min | 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | −9 kt | 5 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 53 min | 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | −11 kt | 1 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 51 min | 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | −15 kt | -3 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 46 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -7 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 41 min | 6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 40 min | 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 28 kt | −25 kt | -20 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 34 min | 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 35 kt | −28 kt | -35 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 31 min | 6:08 am EDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 49 kt | −39 kt | -44 °C | 159 kt | 2 h 21 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 63 kt | −50 kt | -52 °C | 170 kt | 2 h 12 min | 5:49 am EDT (09:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 35 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° |
| JOT | used from 98 nm out; 48 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° |
| MKG | used from 196 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| FWA | used from 294 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CLE | used from 344 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
| OQW Maquoketa, IA | 39 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 773 ft | ||||
| SFY Savanna, IL | 69 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 616 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 118 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 157 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 758 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | 167 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| BEH Benton Harbor, MI | 236 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 649 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 275 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | none | 873 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| JXN Jackson, MI | 324 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 0.75 mi | none | 1,000 ft | 07:22 UTC |
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 353 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 839 ft | 06:53 UTC | |
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 645 ft | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 25,000 feet marginal VFR
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for DTW
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, 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 CID, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 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 CID 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DTW is before sunrise there (7:42 am EDT (11:42 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: The Eastern Iowa Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne County.