Charlotte/Douglas International to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field CLT → MSN
615 nautical miles (708 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 323°, about 330° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 1,991 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 10 to 89 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 59 to 188 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 79 to 476 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 CLT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 35,000 ft, 33 nm southwest, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 178 nm along the route, 33 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, 35 nm southwest, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 238 nm along the route, 35 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
- CRJ9 descending, 49 nm northeast, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 317 nm along the route, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
- Report
- a routine report filed through DAY
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- T031 B005
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 7 nm west, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 486 nm along the route, 7 nm west 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
- E295 at 37,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. 585 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through UES
- Where
- over BAE
- Time
- 00:53 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E295
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
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 6 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TRI, CVG, IND, JOT, DBQ). 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 | 310° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 02 min | 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 13 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 13 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 10 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 13 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 6 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 09 min | 4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 2 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 05 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -1 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 17 min | 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 28 min | 4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 37 min | 5:05 am CDT (10:05 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 32 kt | +32 kt | -19 °C | 88 kt | 6 h 59 min | 5:27 am CDT (10:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | +38 kt | -34 °C | 82 kt | 7 h 30 min | 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 51 kt | +51 kt | -41 °C | 69 kt | 8 h 55 min | 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -50 °C | 70 kt | 8 h 47 min | 7:15 am CDT (12:15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP | used from 0 nm out; 61 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 50 nm out; 31 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 198 nm out; 68 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 347 nm out; 32 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 446 nm out; 45 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° |
| DBQ | used from 595 nm out; 77 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte, NC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 40 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 99 nm out, 11 nm west 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 |
| LNP Wise, VA | 129 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 2,684 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 218 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 288 nm out, 3 nm northwest 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 | 367 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: mist | calm | 0.75 mi | 500 ft | 919 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 407 nm out, 9 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 | 486 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 02:50 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | 506 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| JVL Janesville, WI | 585 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 807 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSN
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 288 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.