Plan a flight · Sun 10:36 pm EDT (02:36 UTC)

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International to Chicago/Rockford International CVG → RFD

276 nautical miles (318 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 315°, about 321° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CVG is VFR, wind calm; RFD is VFR, wind calm. 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: 435 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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

B737 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B744 climbing, 5 nm east, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. At the departure end, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
B39M at 35,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 197 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
A321 at 32,000 ft, 24 nm southwest, 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the destination end, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence

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 3 forecast points nearest it (CVG, IND, JOT). 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	290° at 18 kt	+16 kt		104 kt	2 h 39 min	12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	+19 kt	15 °C	101 kt	2 h 44 min	12:20 am CDT (05:20 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	+17 kt	11 °C	103 kt	2 h 41 min	12:17 am CDT (05:17 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	+13 kt	6 °C	107 kt	2 h 35 min	12:11 am CDT (05:11 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	+11 kt	2 °C	109 kt	2 h 32 min	12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	+15 kt	-1 °C	105 kt	2 h 38 min	12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+19 kt	-4 °C	101 kt	2 h 44 min	12:20 am CDT (05:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 23 kt	+22 kt	-7 °C	98 kt	2 h 49 min	12:25 am CDT (05:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 30 kt	+30 kt	-19 °C	90 kt	3 h 04 min	12:40 am CDT (05:40 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 39 kt	+38 kt	-34 °C	82 kt	3 h 22 min	12:58 am CDT (05:58 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 55 kt	+55 kt	-43 °C	65 kt	4 h 15 min	1:51 am CDT (06:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 58 kt	+58 kt	-51 °C	62 kt	4 h 27 min	2:03 am CDT (07:03 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 49 nm out; 25 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°
JOT	used from 148 nm out; 46 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°

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	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	896 ft	9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC)
HLB Batesville, IN	30 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet Weather: mist	calm	0.5 mi	2,600 ft	975 ft	02:15 UTC
AID Anderson, IN	79 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.5 mi	200 ft	919 ft	02:35 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	128 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	01:54 UTC
RZL Rensselaer, IN	158 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	698 ft	02:15 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	217 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	02:10 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	237 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	01:52 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 975 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for CVG, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 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
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 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

Daylight

Sunset at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Chicago/Rockford International.