Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International to Philadelphia International CVG → PHL
440 nautical miles (506 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 081°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CVG is low IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots; PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 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: 3,113 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, fog). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 160 to 340 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 350 to 350 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 50 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
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 12 nm north, 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. 420 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- 20 northwest phl
- Time
- 06:38 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- overcast from 19,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B752 climbing, 7 nm west, 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 07:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- B001 overcast T015
- B737 at 800 ft, 37 nm south, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 370 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- K35R at 400 ft, 44 nm south, 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DOV UA /OV KDOV /TM 0745 /FL 004 /TP K35R /SK OVC004-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through DOV
- Where
- over KDOV
- Time
- 07:45 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- K35R
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft, tops unknown
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 6 forecast points nearest it (CVG, CMH, EKN, AGC, PSB, ACY). 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 | 320° at 13 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 3 h 30 min | 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 17 kt | −5 kt | 12 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 31 min | 7:38 am EDT (11:38 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −6 kt | 11 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 30 min | 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −7 kt | 7 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 28 min | 7:35 am EDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 30 min | 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 28 min | 7:35 am EDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −8 kt | -4 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 26 min | 7:33 am EDT (11:33 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −10 kt | -9 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 23 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 20 kt | −10 kt | -10 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 23 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 26 kt | −17 kt | -21 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 13 min | 7:20 am EDT (11:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 32 kt | −21 kt | -35 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 07 min | 7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 40 kt | −33 kt | -40 °C | 153 kt | 2 h 53 min | 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 35 kt | −31 kt | -48 °C | 151 kt | 2 h 55 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 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° |
| CMH | used from 50 nm out; 46 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° |
| EKN | used from 150 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| AGC | used from 250 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| PSB | used from 300 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| ACY | used from 400 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG Covington, KY | departure | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 896 ft | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 40 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,076 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| HOC Hillsboro, OH | 50 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 977 ft | ||||
| UNI Athens/Albany, OH | 110 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 6 mi | 1,600 ft | 765 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 150 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 1,500 ft | 858 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 210 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 1,223 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 220 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,243 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CBE Cumberland, MD | 280 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 757 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 320 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 703 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LNS Lancaster, PA | 390 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 402 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 420 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 12 knots | 5 mi | 1,200 ft | 79 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 1,100 ft | 35 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,243 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC)
Wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for PHL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CVG, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 100 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 100 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- 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
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 25 nm from the route, 350 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHL is before sunrise there (7:07 am EDT (11:07 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, Philadelphia International.