John Glenn Columbus International to Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field CMH → MKC
544 nautical miles (626 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CMH is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots; MKC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23. 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: 6 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 198 nm of the route.
- 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). Over the last 119 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
- MD83 climbing, 11 nm south, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 50 nm north, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 237 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
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 (CMH, CVG, IND, SPI, STL, COU, MKC). 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 18 kt | +18 kt | 102 kt | 5 h 20 min | 6:41 am CDT (11:41 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 15 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 20 min | 6:41 am CDT (11:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 14 min | 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 7 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 05 min | 6:26 am CDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 4 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 59 min | 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 0 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 11 min | 6:32 am CDT (11:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | +18 kt | -4 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 20 min | 6:41 am CDT (11:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 23 kt | +21 kt | -7 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 30 min | 6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -19 °C | 96 kt | 5 h 40 min | 7:01 am CDT (12:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | +28 kt | -33 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 55 min | 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 52 kt | +41 kt | -42 °C | 79 kt | 6 h 53 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 53 kt | +40 kt | -50 °C | 80 kt | 6 h 48 min | 8:09 am CDT (13:09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CVG | used from 49 nm out; 54 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 99 nm out; 35 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° |
| SPI | used from 247 nm out; 42 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° |
| STL | used from 346 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| COU | used from 395 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| MKC | used from 494 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
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: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 815 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC) |
| UYF London, OH | 30 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,081 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| DAY Dayton, OH | 59 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,009 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 158 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | none | 796 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 208 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | none | 589 ft | 06:04 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 247 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 277 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 366 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 709 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| HAE Hannibal, MO | 395 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MBY Moberly, MO | 445 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 866 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| HIG Higginsville, MO | 504 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 840 ft | ||||
| MKC Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,081 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC)
Wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKC
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CMH, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 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 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 435 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MKC 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: John Glenn Columbus International, Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field.