Plan a flight · Sun 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC)

Hector International to Buffalo Niagara International FAR → BUF

803 nautical miles (924 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 101°, about 097° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 64-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:10 am EDT (05:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 knots; BUF is VFR, wind from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 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 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 634 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 10 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.

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 FAR.

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

DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
E170 at 25,000 ft, 10 nm east, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
C56X at 1,300 ft, 0 nm southwest, 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft
E170 at 6,000 ft, 10 nm south, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 2218/FL060/TP E170/SK TOP060-OVC014/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
22:18 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
TOP060-OVC014
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
CRJ7 at 18,000 ft, 9 nm south, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent. 50 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR090050/TM 2341/FL180/TP CRJ7/SK BASE180-TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME 180-200/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
50 nm east (090°) of FAR
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASE180-TOP200
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
light rime from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 25 nm north, 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC): light rime icing, -13 °C. 139 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GPZ UA /OV GPZ160020/TM 2355/FL200/TP PC12/SK TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through GPZ
Where
20 nm south (160°) of GPZ
Time
23:55 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP200
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
light rime
A319 at 4,300 ft, 12 nm south, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): overcast above 4,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF270020/TM 2314/FL043/TP A319/SK OVC 043/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
20 nm west (270°) of BUF
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 4,300 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 4,300 ft
Remarks
during the descent
B38M at 500 ft, 48 nm east, 6:52 pm CDT (23:52 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2352/FL005/TP B38M/SK BKN005-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:52 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 500 ft, tops unknown
A21N at 30,000 ft, 27 nm south, 6:36 pm CDT (23:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JHW UA /OV JHW050025/TM 2336/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JHW
Where
25 nm northeast (050°) of JHW
Time
23:36 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
zob
B38M at 30,000 ft, 39 nm south, 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JHW UA /OV JHW080020/TM 2254/FL300/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JHW
Where
20 nm east (080°) of JHW
Time
22:54 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
zob
A320 at 2,500 ft, 48 nm east, 5:15 pm CDT (22:15 UTC): a broken layer above 2,500 ft. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2215/FL025/TP A320/SK BKN025-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 2,500 ft, tops unknown
PC12 at 25,000 ft, 25 nm south, 5:14 pm CDT (22:14 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF180025/TM 2214/FL250/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
25 nm south (180°) of BUF
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light to moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B712 at 30,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 5:09 pm CDT (22:09 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: improves westbound zob. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF/TM 2209/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM IMPROVES WESTBOUND ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
over BUF
Time
22:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
improves westbound zob
A321 at 6,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 4:59 pm CDT (21:59 UTC): a broken layer above 6,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF230015/TM 2159/FL060/TP A321/SK BKN 060/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
15 nm southwest (230°) of BUF
Time
21:59 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
a broken layer from 6,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb

1 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (AXN, DLH, GRB, TVC, BUF). 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	220° at 12 kt	−4 kt		124 kt	6 h 29 min	3:17 am EDT (07:17 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 13 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	6 h 11 min	2:59 am EDT (06:59 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	−13 kt	12 °C	133 kt	6 h 02 min	2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	−15 kt	9 °C	135 kt	5 h 57 min	2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	−13 kt	4 °C	133 kt	6 h 02 min	2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−15 kt	0 °C	135 kt	5 h 57 min	2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	−19 kt	-5 °C	139 kt	5 h 47 min	2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 22 kt	−22 kt	-10 °C	142 kt	5 h 39 min	2:27 am EDT (06:27 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 23 kt	−23 kt	-11 °C	143 kt	5 h 37 min	2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 32 kt	−32 kt	-21 °C	152 kt	5 h 17 min	2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 44 kt	−43 kt	-37 °C	163 kt	4 h 56 min	1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 48 kt	−48 kt	-46 °C	168 kt	4 h 47 min	1:35 am EDT (05:35 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 65 kt	−64 kt	-52 °C	184 kt	4 h 22 min	1:10 am EDT (05:10 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
AXN	used from 0 nm out; 68 nm from the line	L/V	220/23 17°	230/24 12°	240/25 5°	260/32 -11°	260/40 -21°	270/50 -35°	270/57 -45°	270/81 -55°
DLH	used from 99 nm out; 72 nm from the line	240/6	230/22 15°	250/28 11°	230/22 4°	270/33 -12°	280/47 -21°	280/59 -37°	290/65 -47°	290/88 -55°
GRB	used from 297 nm out; 86 nm from the line	240/24	260/18 16°	270/20 11°	290/14 4°	280/24 -9°	300/34 -21°	310/51 -38°	310/54 -48°	300/71 -51°
TVC	used from 446 nm out; 18 nm from the line	210/17	290/14 15°	310/20 9°	310/18 2°	310/24 -11°	320/35 -22°	320/53 -39°	310/45 -49°	290/58 -51°
BUF	used from 644 nm out; 134 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -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
FAR Fargo, ND	departure	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the north (010°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	901 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
DTL Detroit Lakes, MN	40 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	1,395 ft	00:35 UTC
AIT Aitkin, MN	129 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the north (360°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,206 ft	00:35 UTC
HYR Hayward, WI	228 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,215 ft	23:53 UTC
PKF Park Falls, WI	268 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				1,501 ft
MNM Menominee, MI	396 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	624 ft	23:57 UTC
FKS Frankfort, MI	466 nm out, 22 nm south of the line	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	633 ft	00:35 UTC
GOV Grayling, MI	525 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: haze	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	4 mi	none	1,158 ft	23:55 UTC
OSC Oscoda, MI	585 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	633 ft	00:35 UTC
CYSN St Catharines,	783 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots	15 mi	5,000 ft	321 ft	00:00 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	726 ft	7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,501 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BUF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:10 am EDT (05:10 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for BUF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

The forecast for FAR, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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 FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BUF is before sunrise there (7:24 am EDT (11:24 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Hector International, Buffalo Niagara International.