The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 10:08 pm CDT (03:08 UTC)

Dallas-Fort Worth International to Gerald R Ford International DFW → GRR

809 nautical miles (931 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 039°, about 035° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DFW is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots; GRR is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 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: 1,900 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 DFW.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • A320 at 33,000 ft, 38 nm southeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 38 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through JXN
    Where
    30 nm west (280°) of JXN
    Time
    00:36 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
    Remarks
    zob
  • B39M at 35,000 ft, 6 nm west, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 689 nm along the route, 6 nm west 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

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 8 forecast points nearest it (DAL, FSM, SGF, COU, STL, SPI, JOT, MKG). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft230° at 24 kt−24 kt144 kt5 h 37 min4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC)
5,500 ft240° at 23 kt−21 kt141 kt5 h 44 min4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
7,500 ft250° at 20 kt−18 kt13 °C138 kt5 h 52 min5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC)
9,500 ft250° at 18 kt−15 kt10 °C135 kt6 h5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC)
11,500 ft250° at 15 kt−13 kt7 °C133 kt6 h 05 min5:13 am EDT (09:13 UTC)
13,500 ft250° at 15 kt−13 kt3 °C133 kt6 h 05 min5:13 am EDT (09:13 UTC)
15,500 ft260° at 17 kt−14 kt-1 °C134 kt6 h 02 min5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC)
17,500 ft260° at 19 kt−15 kt-5 °C135 kt6 h5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180260° at 20 kt−15 kt-6 °C135 kt6 h5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240270° at 26 kt−19 kt-18 °C139 kt5 h 49 min4:57 am EDT (08:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300280° at 35 kt−16 kt-32 °C136 kt5 h 57 min5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340290° at 46 kt−19 kt-41 °C139 kt5 h 49 min4:57 am EDT (08:57 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390300° at 51 kt−14 kt-51 °C134 kt6 h 02 min5:10 am EDT (09:10 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
DALused from 0 nm out; 23 nm from the line190/29220/23 17°220/17 13°250/18 8°230/18 -5°240/18 -15°270/34 -29°280/33 -39°300/36 -51°
FSMused from 100 nm out; 73 nm from the line210/27250/23 16°250/20 13°240/17 8°250/18 -6°260/31 -16°280/42 -30°280/44 -40°290/38 -51°
SGFused from 250 nm out; 50 nm from the line230/33230/28 15°250/20 13°240/18 7°250/20 -6°250/24 -17°280/42 -31°280/49 -40°290/46 -51°
COUused from 400 nm out; 51 nm from the line230/31230/30 15°260/16 11°270/14 6°260/24 -6°270/27 -18°270/37 -32°280/49 -41°290/56 -51°
STLused from 449 nm out; 16 nm from the line250/24250/24 16°260/23 9°270/16 6°260/25 -6°270/29 -19°290/34 -33°290/48 -41°290/54 -51°
SPIused from 499 nm out; 24 nm from the line220/21250/23 16°260/27 9°270/14 6°270/23 -7°270/31 -19°270/28 -33°290/48 -42°300/55 -52°
JOTused from 599 nm out; 50 nm from the line250/23270/22 15°250/16 10°240/9 4°280/22 -7°280/29 -19°300/29 -34°290/50 -43°300/64 -52°
MKGused from 749 nm out; 42 nm from the line260/22290/16 15°300/11 10°290/5 3°300/26 -9°300/32 -20°320/48 -36°320/61 -45°310/74 -53°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX departure VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 606 ft 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC)
TKI Dallas, TX 30 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 588 ft 02:53 UTC
HHW Hugo, OK 100 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line VFR from the south (170°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 572 ft 02:50 UTC
FSM Fort Smith, AR 200 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south (180°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 469 ft 02:53 UTC
BBG Branson, MO 290 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 1,302 ft 02:55 UTC
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO 380 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 1,159 ft 02:55 UTC
SUS St Louis, MO 469 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 463 ft 02:54 UTC
SPI Springfield, IL 549 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 597 ft 02:52 UTC
BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL 599 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR from the south (180°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 871 ft 02:56 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN 699 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower VFR variable at 4 knots 10+ mi none 596 ft 02:50 UTC
BEH Benton Harbor, MI 749 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line IFR Weather: mist calm 2 mi none 649 ft 02:59 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 793 ft 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,302 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GRR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for GRR
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DFW, the departure
  • From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 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

  • 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
  • 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 9 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC), at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GRR is before sunrise there (7:51 am EDT (11:51 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 southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Dallas-Fort Worth International, Gerald R Ford International.