Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Field to Nantucket Memorial ERI → ACK
456 nautical miles (525 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 093°, about 103° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:34 am EDT (08:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ERI is marginal VFR, wind variable at 4 knots; ACK is IFR, wind from the east (080°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18. 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: 2 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
- SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Near the route, 347 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- SIGMET E18E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 35 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 69 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18E VALID UNTIL 0655Z MA RI CT AND MA RI NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E BOS-130SE ACK-170S ACK-50SE HTO-20NW PVD-40E BOS AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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 last 406 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 258 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 99 to 416 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: 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 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 ERI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 24 nm north, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. At the departure end, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
- Report
- an urgent report filed through DKK
- Where
- 40 nm west (280°) of DKK
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- no inj/dmg zob
- GA6C descending, 13 nm south, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 268 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
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 (BUF, PSB, AVP, ALB, BDL, ACK). 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 | 190° at 3 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 3 h 48 min | 5:40 am EDT (09:40 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 11 kt | −9 kt | 13 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 32 min | 5:24 am EDT (09:24 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 10 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 26 min | 5:18 am EDT (09:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 6 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 23 min | 5:15 am EDT (09:15 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 18 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 0 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 15 min | 5:07 am EDT (09:07 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -5 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 11 min | 5:03 am EDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -10 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 09 min | 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -10 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 09 min | 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | −28 kt | -21 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 05 min | 4:57 am EDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 48 kt | −41 kt | -35 °C | 161 kt | 2 h 50 min | 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 59 kt | −47 kt | -42 °C | 167 kt | 2 h 44 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 60 kt | −49 kt | -50 °C | 169 kt | 2 h 42 min | 4:34 am EDT (08:34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | used from 0 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| PSB | used from 99 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° | |
| AVP | used from 149 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| ALB | used from 248 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| BDL | used from 297 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| ACK | used from 397 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 230/29 | 270/37 16° | 270/38 10° | 270/40 4° | 240/46 -8° | 230/52 -17° | 240/74 -31° | 240/83 -41° | 240/91 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERI Erie, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC) |
| JHW Jamestown, NY | 40 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 1,723 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| BFD Bradford, PA | 69 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 1.5 mi | 1,700 ft | 2,143 ft | 05:30 UTC |
| ELZ Wellsville, NY | 99 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 300 ft | 2,124 ft | 05:05 UTC |
| ELM Elmira/Corning, NY | 149 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 200 ft | 955 ft | 05:06 UTC |
| BGM Binghamton, NY | 188 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,100 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 1,635 ft | 05:17 UTC |
| MSV Monticello, NY | 238 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 1,403 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| POU Poughkeepsie, NY | 278 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 163 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| HFD Hartford, CT | 337 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 18 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GON Groton (New London), CT | 367 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 9 ft | 05:45 UTC |
| MVY Vineyard Haven, MA | 426 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | variable at 6 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 66 ft | 05:11 UTC |
| ACK Nantucket, MA | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east (080°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18 | 4 mi | 700 ft | 46 ft | 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,143 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ACK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:34 am EDT (08:34 UTC)
Wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for ACK
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 13 knots, gusting to 18, visibility 2 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for ERI, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 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
- 6/7153 North Sicuate, RI, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 387 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZBW
Daylight
Sunset at ERI 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC), at ACK 6:04 pm EDT (22:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ACK is before sunrise there (6:48 am EDT (10:48 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: Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Field, Nantucket Memorial.