Columbia Regional to Mbs International COU → MBS
464 nautical miles (534 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 050°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC). Right now COU is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; MBS is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 2 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 2W: 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 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). Over the last 20 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 COU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 38,000 ft, 41 nm southeast, 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC): no turbulence. 296 nm along the route, 41 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
OXI UA /OV OXI/TM 1106/FL380/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through OXI
- Where
- over OXI
- Time
- 11:06 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- none
- A320 at 36,000 ft, 48 nm southeast, 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC): no turbulence. 326 nm along the route, 48 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSH UA /OV GSH/TM 1125/FL360/TP A320/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSH
- Where
- over GSH
- Time
- 11:25 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- none
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 12 nm south, 6:49 am CDT (11:49 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FNT UA /OV FNT340025/TM 1149/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FNT
- Where
- 25 nm north (340°) of FNT
- Time
- 11:49 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 (COU, STL, SPI, JOT, MKG). 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 | 260° at 26 kt | −24 kt | 144 kt | 3 h 13 min | 11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 3 h 20 min | 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 12 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 25 min | 11:30 am EDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 9 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 26 min | 11:31 am EDT (15:31 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 6 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 23 min | 11:28 am EDT (15:28 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 2 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 22 min | 11:27 am EDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 25 kt | −19 kt | -3 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 20 min | 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 28 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 19 min | 11:24 am EDT (15:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 28 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 19 min | 11:24 am EDT (15:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 34 kt | −26 kt | -20 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 11 min | 11:16 am EDT (15:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 46 kt | −34 kt | -34 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 01 min | 11:06 am EDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 52 kt | −37 kt | -42 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 57 min | 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 61 kt | −30 kt | -50 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 06 min | 11:11 am EDT (15:11 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 49 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| SPI | used from 99 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| JOT | used from 197 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| MKG | used from 296 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COU Columbia, MO | departure | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC) |
| MYJ Mexico, MO | 30 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 822 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 79 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 709 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| IJX Jacksonville, IL | 109 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 623 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 158 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| DTG Dwight, IL | 227 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 632 ft | ||||
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 276 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 11:50 UTC |
| MGC Michigan City, IN | 306 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 654 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| LWA South Haven, MI | 345 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 665 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 385 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 793 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 424 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 860 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | destination | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | none | 668 ft | 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 889 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MBS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MBS
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- At times between Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Tue 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
The forecast for COU, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 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
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 12 nm from the route, 20 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC), at MBS 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 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: Columbia Regional, Mbs International.