Plan a flight · Sun 8:47 pm CDT (01:47 UTC)

Hector International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International FAR → SDF

717 nautical miles (825 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 133°, about 129° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 61-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:45 am EDT (05:45 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (360°) at 14 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 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: 583 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 50 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). Near the route, 249 nm along 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 FAR.

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

A320 descending, 0 nm southwest, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0101/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC012-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
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
CRJ7 at 18,000 ft, 20 nm northeast, 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, 20 nm northeast 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
B39M at 34,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 179 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
E170 at 23,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 597 nm along the route, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light
B38M at 23,700 ft, 28 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 627 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light

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 7 forecast points nearest it (AXN, MSP, LSE, DBQ, JOT, IND, LOU). 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	240° at 13 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	5 h 53 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 15 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	5 h 33 min	3:20 am EDT (07:20 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−11 kt	14 °C	131 kt	5 h 28 min	3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC)
9,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	−12 kt	9 °C	132 kt	5 h 26 min	3:13 am EDT (07:13 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−13 kt	6 °C	133 kt	5 h 23 min	3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	−15 kt	1 °C	135 kt	5 h 19 min	3:06 am EDT (07:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 19 kt	−17 kt	-4 °C	137 kt	5 h 14 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	−19 kt	-9 °C	139 kt	5 h 09 min	2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 21 kt	−20 kt	-10 °C	140 kt	5 h 07 min	2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 30 kt	−29 kt	-20 °C	149 kt	4 h 49 min	2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 42 kt	−41 kt	-36 °C	161 kt	4 h 27 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 50 kt	−49 kt	-44 °C	169 kt	4 h 15 min	2:02 am EDT (06:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 65 kt	−61 kt	-51 °C	181 kt	3 h 58 min	1:45 am EDT (05:45 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; 62 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°
MSP	used from 149 nm out; 26 nm from the line	200/28	240/30 19°	240/24 12°	240/17 5°	270/24 -10°	270/33 -20°	280/48 -35°	290/55 -45°	280/84 -54°
LSE	used from 249 nm out; 43 nm from the line	220/33	250/29 17°	250/15 9°	260/12 6°	280/21 -9°	280/33 -20°	300/43 -36°	310/56 -45°	300/79 -53°
DBQ	used from 348 nm out; 6 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
JOT	used from 448 nm out; 47 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
IND	used from 548 nm out; 69 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
LOU	used from 647 nm out; 45 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°

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 (360°) at 14 knots	2.5 mi	400 ft	901 ft	8:23 pm CDT (01:23 UTC)
FFM Fergus Falls, MN	50 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the north (360°) at 8 knots, gusting to 13	10+ mi	11,000 ft	1,182 ft	01:35 UTC
STC St Cloud, MN	139 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,030 ft	00:53 UTC
FCM Minneapolis, MN	189 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	906 ft	00:53 UTC
RST Rochester, MN	259 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	00:54 UTC
DEH Decorah, IA	309 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots, gusting to 13	10+ mi	none	1,157 ft	01:35 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	378 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	00:53 UTC
SQI Sterling/Rockfalls, IL	438 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	647 ft	00:56 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	558 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	754 ft	00:53 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	607 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	589 ft	00:53 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN	647 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Weather: mist	calm	1.5 mi	none	845 ft	01:45 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:45 am EDT (05:45 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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

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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.