Detroit Metro Wayne County to Duluth International DTW → DLH
469 nautical miles (540 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 309°, about 316° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC). Right now DTW is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 knots; DLH is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 12 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 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 first 70 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 route from 130 to 329 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 40 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 DTW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 43 nm southwest, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 43 nm southwest 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
- A333 descending, 0 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure 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
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 43 nm southwest, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 43 nm southwest 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
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 4 forecast points nearest it (CLE, MKG, GRB, DLH). 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 | 260° at 14 kt | +10 kt | 110 kt | 4 h 16 min | 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 14 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 25 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 10 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 23 min | 7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +11 kt | 6 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 18 min | 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 2 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 21 min | 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | +17 kt | -2 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 33 min | 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 24 kt | +22 kt | -7 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 47 min | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -10 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 59 min | 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -20 °C | 89 kt | 5 h 16 min | 8:22 am CDT (13:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 40 kt | +41 kt | -36 °C | 79 kt | 5 h 56 min | 9:02 am CDT (14:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 49 kt | +49 kt | -45 °C | 71 kt | 6 h 36 min | 9:42 am CDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 64 kt | +63 kt | -53 °C | 57 kt | 8 h 14 min | 11:20 am CDT (16:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | used from 0 nm out; 108 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° |
| MKG | used from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| GRB | used from 200 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| DLH | used from 349 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 080/28 | 240/21 15° | 250/26 9° | 250/32 3° | 260/42 -11° | 270/40 -21° | 260/43 -36° | 260/46 -46° | 260/65 -54° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTW Detroit, MI | departure | 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) |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | 20 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 980 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 60 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 8 mi | none | 860 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| RQB Big Rapids, MI | 130 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: fog | from the east-northeast (060°) at 2 knots | 0.5 mi | 500 ft | 994 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| LDM Ludington, MI | 170 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 646 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 249 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 695 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| AIG Antigo, WI | 309 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,523 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| RHI Rhinelander, WI | 339 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,623 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| PKF Park Falls, WI | 379 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,501 ft | ||||
| OLG Solon Springs, WI | 439 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 13 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 1,102 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| DLH Duluth, MN | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 1,427 ft | 3:02 am CDT (08:02 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,623 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DLH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC)
Wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 200 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for DLH
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east at 15 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 16 knots, gusting to 27, visibility 2 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 200 feet
The forecast for DTW, the departure
- 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
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 DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at DLH 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, Duluth International.