St. Louis Downtown Airport to Detroit Metro Wayne County CPS → DTW
380 nautical miles (437 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 053°, about 053° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CPS is VFR, wind calm; DTW is IFR, wind from the west (260°) 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 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 205 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 CPS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 20 nm southeast, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 341 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 20 nm southeast, 12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 341 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 05:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- A333 descending, 0 nm south, 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 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 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 (STL, SPI, IND, 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 | 270° at 14 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 2 h 54 min | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 2 h 57 min | 6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | −8 kt | 12 °C | 128 kt | 2 h 58 min | 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | −7 kt | 8 °C | 127 kt | 3 h | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | −3 kt | 5 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 05 min | 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | −4 kt | 1 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 04 min | 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | −7 kt | -3 °C | 127 kt | 3 h | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | −10 kt | -7 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 55 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 23 kt | −11 kt | -8 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 54 min | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 31 kt | −10 kt | -20 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 55 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 39 kt | −5 kt | -35 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 02 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 55 kt | −8 kt | -43 °C | 128 kt | 2 h 58 min | 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 56 kt | −7 kt | -51 °C | 127 kt | 3 h | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | used from 0 nm out; 30 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° |
| SPI | used from 49 nm out; 49 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° |
| IND | used from 146 nm out; 52 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° |
| FWA | used from 195 nm out; 53 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 341 nm out; 92 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 412 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 19 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| VLA Vandalia, IL | 49 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 537 ft | ||||
| MTO Mattoon/Charleston, IL | 107 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 722 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 127 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 185 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | none | 605 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 224 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 273 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 814 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| USE Wauseon, OH | 331 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | none | 780 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| TOL Toledo, OH | 341 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | none | 683 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 645 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 814 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, 6:53 am EDT (10:53 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 CPS, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne County.