Garden City Regional to Philadelphia International GCK → PHL
1,192 nautical miles (1,372 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 076°, about 071° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:49 am EDT (15:49 UTC). Right now GCK is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 21 knots, gusting to 32; PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 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 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 first 437 nm of the route.
- 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 487 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 934 to 1093 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 1113 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 50 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 GCK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 10 nm north, 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- 20 northwest phl
- Time
- 06:38 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- overcast from 19,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B752 climbing, 48 nm south, 2:37 am CDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 745 nm along the route, 48 nm south 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
- B763 at 200 ft, 48 nm south, 3:05 am CDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 755 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 1 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 08:05 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- sky obscured from 200 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B737 at 800 ft, 45 nm south, 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 1133 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- K35R at 400 ft, 45 nm south, 2:45 am CDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DOV UA /OV KDOV /TM 0745 /FL 004 /TP K35R /SK OVC004-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through DOV
- Where
- over KDOV
- Time
- 07:45 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- K35R
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft, tops unknown
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 12 forecast points nearest it (GCK, SLN, MKC, COU, STL, SPI, IND, CVG, CMH, AGC, PSB, ACY). 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 | 260° at 22 kt | −23 kt | 143 kt | 8 h 20 min | 1:03 pm EDT (17:03 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | −18 kt | 17 °C | 138 kt | 8 h 38 min | 1:21 pm EDT (17:21 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −15 kt | 13 °C | 135 kt | 8 h 50 min | 1:33 pm EDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | −14 kt | 9 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 54 min | 1:37 pm EDT (17:37 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −15 kt | 5 °C | 135 kt | 8 h 50 min | 1:33 pm EDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −18 kt | 2 °C | 138 kt | 8 h 38 min | 1:21 pm EDT (17:21 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 20 kt | −20 kt | -3 °C | 140 kt | 8 h 31 min | 1:14 pm EDT (17:14 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -7 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 20 min | 1:03 pm EDT (17:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -8 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 20 min | 1:03 pm EDT (17:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -20 °C | 149 kt | 8 h | 12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 44 kt | −42 kt | -33 °C | 162 kt | 7 h 21 min | 12:04 pm EDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 53 kt | −48 kt | -40 °C | 168 kt | 7 h 06 min | 11:49 am EDT (15:49 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 50 kt | −43 kt | -50 °C | 163 kt | 7 h 19 min | 12:02 pm EDT (16:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| SLN | used from 99 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| MKC | used from 248 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| COU | used from 348 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 447 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| SPI | used from 497 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| IND | used from 596 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| CVG | used from 745 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| CMH | used from 795 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
| AGC | used from 894 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 340/11 | 350/12 11° | 360/25 7° | 340/30 2° | 340/41 -8° | 340/44 -21° | 350/59 -36° | 340/68 -42° | 340/50 -51° |
| PSB | used from 1043 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 020/21 12° | 360/28 7° | 360/29 1° | 350/33 -10° | 350/42 -22° | 350/49 -37° | 340/63 -43° | 350/39 -52° | |
| ACY | used from 1143 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 350/12 | 340/12 11° | 340/12 6° | 340/13 2° | 270/10 -10° | 240/17 -23° | 230/46 -33° | 230/46 -40° | 240/46 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK Garden City, KS | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 21 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
| LQR Larned, KS | 79 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 149 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| IXD Olathe, KS | 278 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,087 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 407 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 566 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 686 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 0.75 mi | none | 796 ft | 08:25 UTC |
| TZR Columbus, OH | 825 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 904 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| LCK Columbus, OH | 835 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 800 ft | 743 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 1073 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 703 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 1173 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (360°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 79 ft | 08:37 UTC |
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 1,100 ft | 35 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,890 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:49 am EDT (15:49 UTC)
Wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for PHL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for GCK, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 407 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at GCK 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 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: Garden City Regional, Philadelphia International.