Gerald R Ford International to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International GRR → MSY
807 nautical miles (928 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 198°, about 204° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC). Right now GRR is IFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots; MSY 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: 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
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 02:00–09:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (MKG, FWA, IND, EVV, BNA, MEM, JAN, MSY). 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 | 280° at 12 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 6 h 50 min | 9:54 am CDT (14:54 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | −2 kt | 16 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 37 min | 9:41 am CDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −4 kt | 12 °C | 124 kt | 6 h 30 min | 9:34 am CDT (14:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | −5 kt | 8 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 27 min | 9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 13 kt | −7 kt | 4 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 21 min | 9:25 am CDT (14:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 21 min | 9:25 am CDT (14:25 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | −7 kt | -3 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 21 min | 9:25 am CDT (14:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 20 kt | −7 kt | -6 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 21 min | 9:25 am CDT (14:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 27 kt | −11 kt | -18 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 10 min | 9:14 am CDT (14:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 40 kt | −22 kt | -33 °C | 142 kt | 5 h 41 min | 8:45 am CDT (13:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 50 kt | −25 kt | -42 °C | 145 kt | 5 h 34 min | 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 51 kt | −30 kt | -51 °C | 150 kt | 5 h 23 min | 8:27 am CDT (13:27 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; 47 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; 57 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° |
| IND | used from 149 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| EVV | used from 249 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| BNA | used from 398 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| MEM | used from 448 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| JAN | used from 597 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| MSY | used from 747 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 110/5 | 150/6 19° | L/V 12° | 310/5 7° | 310/13 -4° | 290/20 -16° | 330/36 -31° | 330/37 -41° | 350/43 -52° |
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 | IFR Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 793 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 70 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 777 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 139 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 219 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 309 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 0.75 mi | 200 ft | 421 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| TWT Sturgis, KY | 339 nm out, 12 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 372 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 468 nm out, 25 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 538 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 346 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LMS Louisville, MS | 607 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 574 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| PIB Hattiesburg-Laurel, MS | 707 nm out, 23 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| HDC Hammond, LA | 777 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MSY New Orleans, LA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 810 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MSY
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 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 MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 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, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.