Gerald R Ford International to John Glenn Columbus International GRR → CMH
210 nautical miles (241 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 145°, about 151° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 65-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GRR is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots; CMH is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) 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: 6 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.
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
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 19 nm northeast, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 110 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast 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, 19 nm northeast, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 110 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast 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, 11 nm south, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 11 nm south 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 3 forecast points nearest it (MKG, FWA, CMH). 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 16 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 1 h 33 min | 3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 1 h 31 min | 3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 12 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 31 min | 3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 9 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 31 min | 3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 15 kt | −15 kt | 4 °C | 135 kt | 1 h 33 min | 3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 0 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 31 min | 3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -4 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 29 min | 3:31 am EDT (07:31 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -8 °C | 147 kt | 1 h 26 min | 3:28 am EDT (07:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 28 kt | −28 kt | -9 °C | 148 kt | 1 h 25 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -20 °C | 158 kt | 1 h 20 min | 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 52 kt | −52 kt | -36 °C | 172 kt | 1 h 13 min | 3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 65 kt | −65 kt | -43 °C | 185 kt | 1 h 08 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 61 kt | −61 kt | -50 °C | 181 kt | 1 h 10 min | 3:12 am EDT (07:12 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; 59 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; 60 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 150 nm out; 35 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° |
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 south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | none | 793 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 40 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 951 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| JXN Jackson, MI | 60 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Weather: fog | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 0.5 mi | none | 1,000 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| TOL Toledo, OH | 110 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 1,400 ft | 683 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| FDY Findlay, OH | 140 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 1,500 ft | 812 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DLZ Delaware, OH | 190 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | 1,100 ft | 945 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CMH Columbus, OH | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 815 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CMH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for CMH
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 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 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for GRR, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, 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 5 miles, mist
- 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 CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CMH is before sunrise there (7:38 am EDT (11:38 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, John Glenn Columbus International.