Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International to Garden City Regional CVG → GCK
757 nautical miles (871 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC). Right now CVG is marginal VFR, wind calm; GCK is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21. 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 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 129 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 388 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 CVG.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 8 forecast points nearest it (CVG, IND, EVV, STL, COU, MKC, SLN, GCK). 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 | 240° at 28 kt | +25 kt | 21 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 58 min | 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 17 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 48 min | 8:40 am CDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 34 min | 8:26 am CDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 17 min | 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 13 kt | +14 kt | 5 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 08 min | 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 21 min | 8:13 am CDT (13:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | +20 kt | -3 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 34 min | 8:26 am CDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 22 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 48 min | 8:40 am CDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 26 kt | +27 kt | -19 °C | 93 kt | 8 h 08 min | 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 40 kt | +41 kt | -31 °C | 79 kt | 9 h 35 min | 10:27 am CDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 51 kt | +51 kt | -40 °C | 69 kt | 10 h 58 min | 11:50 am CDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -50 °C | 71 kt | 10 h 40 min | 11:32 am CDT (16:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG | used from 0 nm out; 25 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 50 nm out; 41 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° |
| EVV | used from 100 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| STL | used from 199 nm out; 44 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 299 nm out; 29 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 398 nm out; 49 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° |
| SLN | used from 548 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 697 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG Covington, KY | departure | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 896 ft | 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC) |
| BAK Columbus, IN | 60 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 01:45 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 90 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.75 mi | none | 845 ft | 05:45 UTC |
| VLA Vandalia, IL | 209 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 537 ft | ||||
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 249 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 348 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| DMO Sedalia, MO | 398 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 909 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| IXD Olathe, KS | 478 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,087 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| EMP Emporia, KS | 538 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,207 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 617 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| DDC Dodge City, KS | 727 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 2,595 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,890 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GCK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for GCK
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CVG, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 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-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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, at the departure end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, 348 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at GCK 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 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: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Garden City Regional.