John Glenn Columbus International to Chicago Midway International CMH → MDW
245 nautical miles (282 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 298°, about 305° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 9:50 pm CDT (02:50 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CMH is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 2,452 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
- SIGMET E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112355 MKCE WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E VALID UNTIL 0155Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 88 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 CMH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over CMH
- Time
- 00:27 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- T037
- C150 climbing, 18 nm southeast, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LHQ/TM 2245/FLDURC/TP C150/SK B015 T038
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LHQ
- Time
- 22:45 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- C150
- Sky
- B015 T038
- S22T at 2,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 5:47 pm EDT (21:47 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 2147/FL020/TP S22T/SK B020 T030
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over CMH
- Time
- 21:47 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- B020 T030
- C150 at 1,500 ft, 5 nm east, 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 29 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV MRT/TM 2218/FL015/TP C150/SK OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over MRT
- Time
- 22:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C150
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft
- E145 climbing, 33 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 49 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- B005 T035
- E545 at 28,000 ft, 9 nm south, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence. 59 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 2315/FL280/TP E545/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over ROD
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Turbulence
- none
- UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 50 nm north, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 118 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- E145 at 2,600 ft, 6 nm north, 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 118 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over FWA
- Time
- 23:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,600 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- B026
- CRJ9 climbing, 6 nm north, 6:01 pm EDT (22:01 UTC): overcast from 2,500 ft to 3,300 ft. 118 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2201/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK OVC025 - TOPS 033
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over FWA
- Time
- 22:01 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- overcast from 2,500 ft, tops 3,300 ft
- A319 at 15,000 ft, 8 nm north, 6:08 pm EDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 196 nm along the route, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
- Report
- a routine report filed through PPO
- Where
- over PPO
- Time
- 22:08 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 226 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 13 nm south, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 235 nm along the route, 13 nm south 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 20:00–03:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (CMH, FWA, 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 | 340° at 13 kt | +10 kt | 110 kt | 2 h 14 min | 9:50 pm CDT (02:50 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 14 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 17 min | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 350° at 19 kt | +12 kt | 10 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 16 min | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 350° at 21 kt | +12 kt | 6 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 16 min | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 350° at 23 kt | +13 kt | 3 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 17 min | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 350° at 24 kt | +14 kt | -2 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 19 min | 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 350° at 25 kt | +16 kt | -6 °C | 104 kt | 2 h 21 min | 9:57 pm CDT (02:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 340° at 26 kt | +18 kt | -10 °C | 102 kt | 2 h 24 min | 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 34 kt | +25 kt | -22 °C | 95 kt | 2 h 35 min | 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 40 kt | +35 kt | -37 °C | 85 kt | 2 h 53 min | 10:29 pm CDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 37 kt | +35 kt | -43 °C | 85 kt | 2 h 53 min | 10:29 pm CDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 46 kt | +44 kt | -48 °C | 76 kt | 3 h 13 min | 10:49 pm CDT (03:49 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| FWA | used from 49 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| JOT | used from 196 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH Columbus, OH | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 815 ft | 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC) |
| MRT Marysville, OH | 29 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,020 ft | 21:09 UTC |
| EDJ Bellefontaine, OH | 49 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 400 ft | 1,121 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 118 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 814 ft | 23:57 UTC |
| HHG Huntington, IN | 128 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 805 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 186 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 226 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 596 ft | 23:50 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,121 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MDW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:50 pm CDT (02:50 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 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 CMH, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is after sunset there (6:16 pm CDT (23:16 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: John Glenn Columbus International, Chicago Midway International.