Joe Foss Field to Blue Grass Airport FSD → LEX
643 nautical miles (740 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 117°, about 112° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots; LEX is low IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 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
- 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 40 to 327 nm out.
- 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 last 79 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 FSD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B752 climbing, 43 nm northeast, 2:37 am CDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 604 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 07:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- B001 overcast T015
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 7 forecast points nearest it (FSD, MCW, DSM, BRL, SPI, 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 19 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 4 h 55 min | 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 4 h 44 min | 8:49 am EDT (12:49 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 13 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 42 min | 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 10 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 44 min | 8:49 am EDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | −13 kt | 5 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 50 min | 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 1 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 48 min | 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | −17 kt | -3 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 42 min | 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 36 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 36 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 28 kt | −27 kt | -19 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 22 min | 8:27 am EDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -34 °C | 153 kt | 4 h 12 min | 8:17 am EDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 48 kt | −48 kt | -42 °C | 168 kt | 3 h 50 min | 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 51 kt | −51 kt | -50 °C | 171 kt | 3 h 46 min | 7:51 am EDT (11:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MCW | used from 99 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| DSM | used from 148 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 247 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| SPI | used from 346 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| IND | used from 445 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| LOU | used from 544 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | departure | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC) |
| SHL Sheldon, IA | 49 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,419 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| POH Pocahontas, IA | 109 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,225 ft | ||||
| FOD Fort Dodge, IA | 129 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,156 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 247 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 307 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 356 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 435 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 495 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 524 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 845 ft | 08:00 UTC |
| LOU Louisville, KY | 594 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 545 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,430 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for FSD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 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 FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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: Joe Foss Field, Blue Grass Airport.