Joe Foss Field to Louisville Muhammad Ali International FSD → SDF
595 nautical miles (685 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 119°, about 114° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north (010°) at 3 knots; SDF is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 682 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 69 to 298 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). Over the last 99 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 8 forecast points nearest it (FSD, MCW, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND, EVV, 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 21 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 4 h 37 min | 7:41 am EDT (11:41 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 4 h 26 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | −15 kt | 13 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 24 min | 7:28 am EDT (11:28 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 10 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 26 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | −12 kt | 6 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 30 min | 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 2 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 26 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −16 kt | -2 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 22 min | 7:26 am EDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -6 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 17 min | 7:21 am EDT (11:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 22 kt | −19 kt | -8 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 17 min | 7:21 am EDT (11:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 28 kt | −26 kt | -19 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 05 min | 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 33 kt | −31 kt | -34 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 56 min | 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 48 kt | −46 kt | -42 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 35 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 52 kt | −51 kt | -50 °C | 171 kt | 3 h 29 min | 6:33 am EDT (10:33 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; 56 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 149 nm out; 38 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 248 nm out; 31 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 347 nm out; 29 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 446 nm out; 76 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° |
| EVV | used from 496 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| LOU | used from 545 nm out; 26 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 (010°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 1:56 am CDT (06:56 UTC) |
| SHL Sheldon, IA | 50 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,419 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| POH Pocahontas, IA | 109 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,225 ft | ||||
| FOD Fort Dodge, IA | 129 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,156 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| GGI Grinnell, IA | 208 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,008 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| AWG Washington, IA | 268 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 357 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 387 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 417 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 486 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 589 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FRH French Lick, IN | 545 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | marginal VFR | calm | 5 mi | none | 792 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 500 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC)
Wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 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
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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.