Gerald R Ford International to Albany International GRR → ALB
516 nautical miles (594 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 087°, about 093° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 41-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:07 am EDT (10:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GRR is marginal VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots; ALB is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 5 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: 4 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 40 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 GRR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A333 descending, 44 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 89 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B739 descending, 44 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 89 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft
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 5 forecast points nearest it (MKG, CLE, BUF, SYR, ALB). 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 | 300° at 8 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 4 h 04 min | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 11 kt | −4 kt | 124 kt | 4 h 10 min | 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 11 kt | −3 kt | 9 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 12 min | 7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 10 kt | −4 kt | 6 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 10 min | 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 11 kt | −6 kt | 3 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 06 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | −9 kt | -1 °C | 129 kt | 4 h | 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −13 kt | -5 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 53 min | 6:48 am EDT (10:48 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −16 kt | -9 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 48 min | 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 22 kt | −17 kt | -10 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 46 min | 6:41 am EDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 26 kt | −23 kt | -22 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 37 min | 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 34 kt | −26 kt | -37 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 32 min | 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 40 kt | −35 kt | -44 °C | 155 kt | 3 h 20 min | 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 44 kt | −41 kt | -50 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 12 min | 6:07 am EDT (10:07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| CLE | used from 99 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| BUF | used from 198 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| SYR | used from 347 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| ALB | used from 446 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | departure | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | none | 793 ft | 2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC) |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 40 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | none | 860 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| FNT Flint, MI | 79 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 9 mi | 400 ft | 782 ft | 06:49 UTC |
| CYZR Sarnia, | 139 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 1,500 ft | 594 ft | 06:00 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 198 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| BUF Buffalo, NY | 298 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 726 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| ROC Rochester, NY | 347 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 4,300 ft | 558 ft | 06:50 UTC |
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 397 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 600 ft | 1,099 ft | 06:29 UTC |
| SYR Syracuse, NY | 417 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 421 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| ALB Albany, NY | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north (350°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 600 ft | 284 ft | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,099 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ALB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:07 am EDT (10:07 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for ALB
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
The forecast for GRR, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
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 GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ALB is before sunrise there (7:04 am EDT (11:04 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: Gerald R Ford International, Albany International.