Gerald R Ford International to Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport GRR → MEM
514 nautical miles (592 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 205°, about 211° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC). Right now GRR is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots; MEM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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: 509 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 GRR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 6 forecast points nearest it (MKG, FWA, IND, EVV, CGI, MEM). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | +8 kt | 112 kt | 4 h 35 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | +5 kt | 14 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 28 min | 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 11 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 31 min | 8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | +7 kt | 7 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 33 min | 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +8 kt | 4 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 35 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 33 min | 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 24 kt | +7 kt | -4 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 33 min | 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 27 kt | +6 kt | -7 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 31 min | 8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 32 kt | +8 kt | -19 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 35 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 37 kt | +7 kt | -33 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 33 min | 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 50 kt | 0 | -42 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 17 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 55 kt | −7 kt | -51 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 03 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| FWA | used from 49 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| IND | used from 148 nm out; 51 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° |
| EVV | used from 247 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| CGI | used from 346 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| MEM | used from 445 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
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 (150°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 793 ft | 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC) |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 40 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 4 mi | none | 873 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 79 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| RWN Winamac, IN | 119 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | no report just now | 708 ft | ||||
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 158 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 605 ft | 08:03 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 218 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| OLY Olney-Noble, IL | 277 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 482 ft | 08:10 UTC |
| MWA Marion, IL | 346 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 471 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 376 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| DYR Dyersburg, TN | 455 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 337 ft | 18:56 UTC |
| NQA Millington, TN | 495 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 322 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MEM Memphis, TN | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 873 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MEM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC)
Wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MEM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, 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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 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, Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport.