Greenville Spartanburg International to Chicago/Rockford International GSP → RFD
544 nautical miles (626 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 326°, about 332° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 12:19 am CDT (05:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GSP is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 3 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: 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
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the first 69 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 168 nm out.
- 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 route from 49 to 237 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 GSP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 37 nm northeast, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 129 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 79 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 40 nm east (090°) of VXV
- Time
- 22:46 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-42
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 12 nm west, 5:24 pm EDT (21:24 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 79 nm along the route, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV VXV090025/TM 2124/FL290/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM ZTLFD-42
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 25 nm east (090°) of VXV
- Time
- 21:24 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-42
- E75S at 29,000 ft, 33 nm southwest, 6:21 pm EDT (22:21 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-39. 99 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV VXV/TM 2221/FL290/TP E75S/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM ZTLFD-39
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over VXV
- Time
- 22:21 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-39
- CRJ9 descending, 14 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 218 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
- CRJ9 descending, 22 nm northeast, 5:33 pm EDT (21:33 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 218 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX090010/TM 2133/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS 067
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 10 nm east (090°) of LEX
- Time
- 21:33 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops 6,700 ft
- E170 climbing, 25 nm southwest, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 257 nm along the route, 25 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over SDF
- Time
- 22:26 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- B022 T036
- M600 at 1,800 ft, 20 nm southwest, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 257 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOU
- Where
- over DURD
- Time
- 22:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- M600
- Sky
- OVC018-TOPO37
- A320 at 3,800 ft, 42 nm northeast, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC): overcast. 257 nm along the route, 42 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG160012/TM 2115/FL038/TP A320/SK T038 OVC B010
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 12 nm south (160°) of CVG
- Time
- 21:15 UTC
- Height
- at 3,800 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- T038 overcast B010
- B737 at 23,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 267 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over CVG
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B753 at 32,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 267 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2211/FL320/TP B753/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over CVG
- Time
- 22:11 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B753
- Turbulence
- none
- B744 climbing, 50 nm northeast, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 277 nm along the route, 50 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 north cvg
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- B022 overcast T036
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
- B739 climbing, 40 nm northeast, 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 277 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 23:31 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- B026 overcast T036
- A333 at 4,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. 277 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- B025 overcast T035
4 more routine reports are on the map.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TYS, LOU, IND, JOT). 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 | 310° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 105 kt | 5 h 11 min | 12:19 am CDT (05:19 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 5 h 26 min | 12:34 am CDT (05:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 5 h 36 min | 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 6 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 44 min | 12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +27 kt | 3 °C | 93 kt | 5 h 51 min | 12:59 am CDT (05:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -1 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 55 min | 1:03 am CDT (06:03 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -5 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 55 min | 1:03 am CDT (06:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -8 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 55 min | 1:03 am CDT (06:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 33 kt | +33 kt | -19 °C | 87 kt | 6 h 15 min | 1:23 am CDT (06:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 39 kt | +38 kt | -35 °C | 82 kt | 6 h 38 min | 1:46 am CDT (06:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 39 kt | +36 kt | -41 °C | 84 kt | 6 h 29 min | 1:37 am CDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 41 kt | +38 kt | -48 °C | 82 kt | 6 h 38 min | 1:46 am CDT (06:46 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| TYS | used from 49 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| LOU | used from 198 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| IND | used from 297 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| JOT | used from 396 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP Greer, SC | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 963 ft | 7:53 pm EDT (23:53 UTC) |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 40 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,100 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| MOR Morristown, TN | 99 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 700 ft | 1,312 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 158 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| DVK Danville, KY | 198 nm out, 10 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 1,021 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 218 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 979 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| BAK Columbus, IN | 317 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 23:45 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 346 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 396 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 485 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 23:45 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 504 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:19 am CDT (05:19 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for GSP, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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 GSP 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC), at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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: Greenville Spartanburg International, Chicago/Rockford International.
