Hector International to General Downing - Peoria International FAR → PIA
486 nautical miles (559 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 138°, about 134° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC). Right now FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 11 knots; PIA is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 109 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 288 to 387 nm out.
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
- P28A at 4,000 ft, 15 nm west, 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,800 ft, 10 °C. At the departure end, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR270015/TM 0927/FL040/TP P28A/SK OVC013-TOP038/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- 15 nm west (270°) of KFAR
- Time
- 09:27 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,800 ft
- Temperature
- 10 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 9 nm west, 3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC): light chop turbulence above 35,000 ft. At the departure end, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 0830/FL350/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 350
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over FAR
- Time
- 08:30 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 35,000 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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, MSP, MCW, DBQ, BRL). 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 | 250° at 16 kt | −4 kt | 124 kt | 3 h 55 min | 9:38 am CDT (14:38 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 3 h 51 min | 9:34 am CDT (14:34 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −6 kt | 14 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 51 min | 9:34 am CDT (14:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 10 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 53 min | 9:36 am CDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −9 kt | 5 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 46 min | 9:29 am CDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 24 kt | −12 kt | 1 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 41 min | 9:24 am CDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 24 kt | −14 kt | -4 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 38 min | 9:21 am CDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 25 kt | −17 kt | -8 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 33 min | 9:16 am CDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 25 kt | −18 kt | -9 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 31 min | 9:14 am CDT (14:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 35 kt | −21 kt | -21 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 27 min | 9:10 am CDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 37 kt | −22 kt | -37 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 25 min | 9:08 am CDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 52 kt | −38 kt | -40 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:48 am CDT (13:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 61 kt | −48 kt | -48 °C | 168 kt | 2 h 54 min | 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 62 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| MSP | used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| MCW | used from 248 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| DBQ | used from 297 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| BRL | used from 397 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
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 | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 11 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 901 ft | 5:18 am CDT (10:18 UTC) |
| BWP Wahpeton, ND | 40 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16 | 2 mi | 7,000 ft | 968 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| AXN Alexandria, MN | 89 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,425 ft | 10:39 UTC |
| PEX Paynesville, MN | 129 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | none | 1,182 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 188 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 906 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| OWA Owatonna, MN | 228 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,145 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 258 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| OLZ Oelwein, IA | 327 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| MXO Monticello, IA | 367 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 833 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 426 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| EZI Kewanee, IL | 456 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| PIA Peoria, IL | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | none | 660 ft | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,425 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PIA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PIA
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
The forecast for FAR, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 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 PIA 6:23 pm CDT (23:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm CDT (23:50 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: Hector International, General Downing - Peoria International.