Plan a flight · Mon 3:08 am EDT (07:08 UTC)

Gerald R Ford International to Columbia Metro Airport GRR → CAE

575 nautical miles (662 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 157°, about 163° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GRR is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots; CAE is 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: 5 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 first 446 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 317 to 446 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 407 to 486 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 417 to 545 nm out.

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

LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 37 nm southwest, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 89 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over OLK
Time
04:31 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
LJ45
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
B738 at 1,700 ft, 42 nm east, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 99 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
B738 at 1,800 ft, 42 nm east, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 99 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
05:18 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 1,300 ft, 42 nm east, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 99 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
MD83 climbing, 41 nm northeast, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 218 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over LCK
Time
05:04 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
MD83
Sky
B010 T037

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 (MKG, FWA, CMH, CVG, CRW, TRI, GSP, CAE). 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	320° at 17 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	4 h 14 min	7:22 am EDT (11:22 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	4 h 06 min	7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 21 kt	−21 kt	11 °C	141 kt	4 h 05 min	7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−22 kt	8 °C	142 kt	4 h 03 min	7:11 am EDT (11:11 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−21 kt	5 °C	141 kt	4 h 05 min	7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	−23 kt	1 °C	143 kt	4 h 01 min	7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	−26 kt	-3 °C	146 kt	3 h 56 min	7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 30 kt	−28 kt	-7 °C	148 kt	3 h 53 min	7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 31 kt	−29 kt	-8 °C	149 kt	3 h 52 min	7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 37 kt	−35 kt	-19 °C	155 kt	3 h 43 min	6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 42 kt	−41 kt	-35 °C	161 kt	3 h 34 min	6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 51 kt	−49 kt	-41 °C	169 kt	3 h 24 min	6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 49 kt	−47 kt	-49 °C	167 kt	3 h 27 min	6:35 am EDT (10:35 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; 57 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°
FWA	used from 50 nm out; 47 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CMH	used from 149 nm out; 56 nm from the line	330/15	340/22 14°	340/24 9°	340/23 4°	340/35 -9°	340/49 -20°	340/58 -37°	330/70 -42°	340/55 -47°
CVG	used from 248 nm out; 68 nm from the line	320/18	350/32 16°	350/35 10°	350/30 3°	330/30 -7°	340/44 -20°	340/58 -35°	330/72 -41°	320/36 -49°
CRW	used from 298 nm out; 69 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
TRI	used from 347 nm out; 39 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
GSP	used from 446 nm out; 44 nm from the line	320/22	340/19 13°	320/18 8°	310/24 5°	300/34 -7°	300/36 -18°	290/30 -33°	300/32 -39°	320/42 -49°
CAE	used from 545 nm out; 15 nm from the line	330/15	330/13 12°	330/22 9°	300/26 6°	280/33 -7°	270/38 -18°	250/45 -33°	240/46 -40°	270/38 -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
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	departure	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	7 mi	none	793 ft	2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC)
BTL Battle Creek, MI	40 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	9 mi	none	951 ft	06:53 UTC
OEB Coldwater, MI	60 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	8 mi	none	958 ft	06:55 UTC
SCA Sidney, OH	169 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				1,044 ft
ILN Wilmington, OH	218 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,076 ft	06:54 UTC
HOC Hillsboro, OH	238 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				977 ft
SJS Prestonsburg, KY	337 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	1,221 ft	06:55 UTC
LNP Wise, VA	377 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots	2.5 mi	400 ft	2,684 ft	06:55 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	407 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	6 mi	2,000 ft	1,518 ft	06:53 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	466 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	06:53 UTC
FDW Winnsboro, SC	555 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	577 ft	06:55 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	235 ft	2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CAE

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CAE is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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: Gerald R Ford International, Columbia Metro Airport.