Plan a flight · Sun 11:35 pm EDT (03:35 UTC)

Gerald R Ford International to Sarasota/Bradenton International GRR → SRQ

941 nautical miles (1,083 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 170°, about 176° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:30 am EDT (09:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GRR is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots; SRQ is VFR, wind from the north (010°) at 4 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: 333 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 366 to 505 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

A320 at 33,000 ft, 11 nm east, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 40 nm along the route, 11 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
A320 at 34,000 ft, 31 nm east, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 139 nm along the route, 31 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
E170 at 21,000 ft, 38 nm east, 9:07 pm EDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. At the departure end, 38 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAN
Where
20 nm south (180°) of LAN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
lght chop
Remarks
during the climb zob
CRJ9 descending, 29 nm east, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 188 nm along the route, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
B712 at 600 ft, 8 nm west, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 297 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
B737 at 35,000 ft, 26 nm east, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 347 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
B738 descending, 5 nm southeast, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. 426 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over KTYS
Time
03:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
A319 descending, 5 nm southeast, 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC): remarks: tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft. 426 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0252/FLDURD/TP A319/RM TOPS 068 BASES 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over KTYS
Time
02:52 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A319
Remarks
tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft
A320 descending, 5 nm east, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 426 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
4 northeast tys
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Remarks
base 2,100 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 10 forecast points nearest it (MKG, FWA, CVG, LOU, TYS, ATL, CSG, TLH, JAX, PIE). 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 19 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	6 h 55 min	6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−21 kt		141 kt	6 h 40 min	6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC)
7,500 ft	340° at 24 kt	−24 kt	13 °C	144 kt	6 h 32 min	6:07 am EDT (10:07 UTC)
9,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−25 kt	10 °C	145 kt	6 h 29 min	6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	−22 kt	6 °C	142 kt	6 h 38 min	6:13 am EDT (10:13 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	−20 kt	2 °C	140 kt	6 h 43 min	6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 24 kt	−20 kt	-2 °C	140 kt	6 h 43 min	6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	−19 kt	-6 °C	139 kt	6 h 46 min	6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 26 kt	−19 kt	-7 °C	139 kt	6 h 46 min	6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 31 kt	−24 kt	-19 °C	144 kt	6 h 32 min	6:07 am EDT (10:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 43 kt	−38 kt	-34 °C	158 kt	5 h 57 min	5:32 am EDT (09:32 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 44 kt	−39 kt	-41 °C	159 kt	5 h 55 min	5:30 am EDT (09:30 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 35 kt	−28 kt	-50 °C	148 kt	6 h 21 min	5:56 am EDT (09:56 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; 55 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; 41 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°
CVG	used from 198 nm out; 10 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°
LOU	used from 297 nm out; 72 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -49°
TYS	used from 347 nm out; 59 nm from the line	320/20	340/18 11°	340/32 9°	340/36 4°	330/37 -7°	330/38 -19°	330/50 -34°	330/53 -38°	330/44 -48°
ATL	used from 495 nm out; 54 nm from the line	320/30	330/37 16°	340/44 11°	330/35 7°	310/33 -6°	300/38 -18°	330/58 -33°	330/48 -40°	320/34 -49°
CSG	used from 644 nm out; 91 nm from the line	310/24	340/35 17°	340/37 12°	330/22 8°	310/30 -7°	290/30 -18°	340/57 -32°	340/55 -41°	320/33 -49°
TLH	used from 693 nm out; 73 nm from the line	320/18	350/31 18°	340/24 13°	310/17 8°	280/22 -7°	300/25 -17°	320/28 -33°	320/24 -41°	320/25 -50°
JAX	used from 792 nm out; 89 nm from the line	290/14	300/16 17°	280/22 14°	280/24 8°	250/32 -6°	250/37 -17°	230/50 -31°	220/52 -41°	220/51 -52°
PIE	used from 842 nm out; 43 nm from the line	350/6	L/V 18°	290/6 14°	280/9 9°	250/18 -6°	250/23 -17°	240/30 -31°	220/31 -41°	220/30 -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	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	793 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)
BTL Battle Creek, MI	40 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	9 mi	none	951 ft	02:53 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	119 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	8 mi	none	814 ft	02:54 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	238 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	896 ft	02:52 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	297 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	9 mi	1,800 ft	979 ft	02:54 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	426 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	986 ft	02:53 UTC
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	535 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (260°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	02:56 UTC
MCN Macon, GA	614 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	354 ft	02:53 UTC
VLD Valdosta, GA	733 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	203 ft	02:53 UTC
LCQ Lake City, FL	773 nm out, 22 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	200 ft	03:15 UTC
SPG St Petersburg, FL	921 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	6 ft	02:53 UTC
SRQ Sarasota/Bradenton, FL	destination	VFR	from the north (010°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	29 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SRQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:30 am EDT (09:30 UTC)

Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SRQ

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for GRR, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 238 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 634 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at SRQ 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SRQ is before sunrise there (7:28 am EDT (11:28 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 lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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, Sarasota/Bradenton International.