Plan a flight · Sun 8:44 pm CDT (01:44 UTC)

Fort Worth Meacham International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International FTW → SDF

652 nautical miles (751 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 057°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 16-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FTW is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 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: 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 FTW.

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

CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 27 nm southeast, 7:10 pm CDT (00:10 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME20. 237 nm along the route, 27 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HOT UA /OV HOT/TM 0010/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB NEG/RM ZME20
```
Report
a routine report filed through HOT
Where
over HOT
Time
00:10 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME20
C750 at 43,000 ft, 19 nm south, 7:50 pm CDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 296 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LIT
Where
25 nm north (360°) of LIT
Time
00:50 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
Remarks
zme
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 37 nm south, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 445 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B737 at 31,000 ft, 18 nm north, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 494 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAH UA /OV CNG360015/TM 0013/FL310/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME25
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAH
Where
15 nm north (360°) of CNG
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME25
B738 at 34,000 ft, 48 nm south, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 543 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme

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 (DAL, FSM, LIT, MEM, CGI, 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	230° at 10 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	5 h 01 min	2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 9 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	5 h 03 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 13 kt	−12 kt	14 °C	132 kt	4 h 56 min	2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC)
9,500 ft	280° at 17 kt	−14 kt	10 °C	134 kt	4 h 52 min	2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	−13 kt	7 °C	133 kt	4 h 54 min	2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−12 kt	3 °C	132 kt	4 h 56 min	2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−11 kt	-2 °C	131 kt	4 h 59 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−9 kt	-6 °C	129 kt	5 h 03 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 20 kt	−9 kt	-6 °C	129 kt	5 h 03 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 24 kt	−7 kt	-17 °C	127 kt	5 h 08 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 41 kt	−15 kt	-32 °C	135 kt	4 h 50 min	2:34 am EDT (06:34 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 45 kt	−16 kt	-40 °C	136 kt	4 h 48 min	2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 41 kt	−12 kt	-50 °C	132 kt	4 h 56 min	2:40 am EDT (06:40 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
DAL	used from 0 nm out; 13 nm from the line	180/21	190/24 15°	230/20 12°	220/23 8°	240/22 -5°	230/18 -15°	280/33 -29°	280/36 -39°	300/33 -52°
FSM	used from 99 nm out; 96 nm from the line	200/18	210/19 15°	230/22 13°	250/18 7°	270/20 -5°	280/24 -16°	280/35 -30°	290/37 -40°	300/40 -52°
LIT	used from 247 nm out; 36 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
MEM	used from 346 nm out; 74 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
CGI	used from 395 nm out; 55 nm from the line	250/10	290/12 17°	290/18 11°	300/22 5°	320/25 -8°	330/30 -18°	320/53 -33°	320/66 -42°	320/56 -50°
EVV	used from 494 nm out; 62 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
LOU	used from 593 nm out; 39 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
FTW Fort Worth, TX	departure	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	710 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	20 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	606 ft	00:53 UTC
PRX Paris, TX	109 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	547 ft	00:55 UTC
MEZ Mena, AR	188 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,079 ft	23:35 UTC
MPJ Morrilton, AR	257 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				923 ft
BDQ Morrilton, AR	267 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	321 ft	01:35 UTC
BVX Batesville, AR	336 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	465 ft	00:56 UTC
EIW New Madrid, MO	445 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	no report just now				295 ft
PAH Paducah, KY	494 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	410 ft	00:00 UTC
OWB Owensboro, KY	583 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	407 ft	00:56 UTC
TEL Tell City, IN	603 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	no report just now				659 ft
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 1,079 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, 2:32 am EDT (06:32 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 FTW, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
9/2934 DALLAS, TX 11 nm from the route, 30 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at FTW 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Fort Worth Meacham International, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.