The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)

Gary/Chicago International to Alexandria International GYY → AEX

665 nautical miles (766 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 203°, about 205° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 25-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:23 pm CDT (04:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GYY is VFR, wind calm; AEX is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) 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: 19 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 GYY.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • A20N at 33,000 ft, 47 nm southeast, 4:09 pm CDT (21:09 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 28,000 ft to 33,000 ft, remarks: ZME25. 278 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PAH UA /OV CNG/TM 2109/FL330/TP A20N/TB MOD CHOP 330-280/RM ZME25
    Report
    a routine report filed through PAH
    Where
    over CNG
    Time
    21:09 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A20N
    Turbulence
    moderate chop from 33,000 ft to 28,000 ft
    Remarks
    ZME25
  • B737 at 33,000 ft, 10 nm east, 4:10 pm CDT (21:10 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 328 nm along the route, 10 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CGI UA /OV MAW/TM 2110/FL330/TP B737/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZME
    Report
    a routine report filed through CGI
    Where
    over MAW
    Time
    21:10 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Turbulence
    moderate chop
    Remarks
    zme
  • A319 at 15,000 ft, 31 nm east, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. At the departure end, 31 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
    Report
    a routine report filed through PPO
    Where
    over PPO
    Time
    22:08 UTC
    Height
    at 15,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Turbulence
    none
    Remarks
    during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
  • C17 at 500 ft, 47 nm northwest, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
    Report
    a routine report filed through KADW
    Where
    1L arrival
    Time
    21:15 UTC
    Height
    at 500 ft
    Aircraft
    C17
    Sky
    overcast from 500 ft
  • B772 at 34,000 ft, 26 nm east, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): no turbulence above 34,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAF UA /OV BVT340020/TM 2115/FL340/TP B772/TB NEG 340
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAF
    Where
    20 nm north (340°) of BVT
    Time
    21:15 UTC
    Height
    at 34,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B772
    Turbulence
    no at 34,000 ft
  • E50P at 36,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 4:25 pm CDT (21:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 60 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PNT UA /OV PNT/TM 2125/FL360/TP E50P/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through PNT
    Where
    over PNT
    Time
    21:25 UTC
    Height
    at 36,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E50P
    Turbulence
    intermittent light chop
  • A321 at 35,000 ft, 30 nm northwest, 4:23 pm CDT (21:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zkc fdc fn. 159 nm along the route, 30 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SLO UA /OV VLA340025/TM 2123/FL350/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZKC FDC FN
    Report
    a routine report filed through SLO
    Where
    25 nm north (340°) of VLA
    Time
    21:23 UTC
    Height
    at 35,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A321
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop
    Remarks
    zkc fdc fn
  • B738 at 38,000 ft, 38 nm west, 4:19 pm CDT (21:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 37,000 ft, remarks: zkc fdc fn. 159 nm along the route, 38 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SPI UA /OV SPI170030/TM 2119/FL380/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 370/RM ZKC FDC FN
    Report
    a routine report filed through SPI
    Where
    30 nm south (170°) of SPI
    Time
    21:19 UTC
    Height
    at 38,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop below 37,000 ft
    Remarks
    zkc fdc fn
  • A319 at 30,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 4:02 pm CDT (21:02 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zkc fdc fn. 238 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MWA UA /OV MWA/TM 2102/FL300/TP A319/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZKC FDC FN
    Report
    a routine report filed through MWA
    Where
    over MWA
    Time
    21:02 UTC
    Height
    at 30,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Turbulence
    light chop
    Remarks
    zkc fdc fn
  • A319 at 34,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zkc fdc fn. 238 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MWA UA /OV MWA/TM 2100/FL340/TP A319/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZKC FDC FN
    Report
    a routine report filed through MWA
    Where
    over MWA
    Time
    21:00 UTC
    Height
    at 34,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Turbulence
    continuous light to moderate chop
    Remarks
    zkc fdc fn
  • A321 at 34,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 4:01 pm CDT (21:01 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zkc fdc fn. 278 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CGI UA /OV CGI/TM 2101/FL340/TP A321/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZKC FDC FN
    Report
    a routine report filed through CGI
    Where
    over CGI
    Time
    21:01 UTC
    Height
    at 34,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A321
    Turbulence
    continuous light to moderate chop
    Remarks
    zkc fdc fn
  • A319 at 39,000 ft, 41 nm east, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 417 nm along the route, 41 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
    Report
    a routine report filed through MEM
    Where
    over MEM
    Time
    23:11 UTC
    Height
    at 39,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Turbulence
    no chop
    Remarks
    smooth
  • G280 at 41,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 5:12 pm CDT (22:12 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZME44. 497 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PBF UA /OV PBF180005/TM 2212/FL410/TP G280/TB CONS LGT/RM ZME44
    Report
    a routine report filed through PBF
    Where
    5 nm south (180°) of PBF
    Time
    22:12 UTC
    Height
    at 41,000 ft
    Aircraft
    G280
    Turbulence
    continuous light
    Remarks
    ZME44
  • PC12 at 24,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 5:28 pm CDT (22:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW28. 536 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LLQ UA /OV 17 S MON/TM 2228/FL240/TP PC12/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZFW28
    Report
    a routine report filed through LLQ
    Where
    17 south mon
    Time
    22:28 UTC
    Height
    at 24,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop
    Remarks
    ZFW28

1 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 7 forecast points nearest it (JOT, SPI, CGI, MEM, LIT, JAN, SHV). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft250° at 10 kt+7 kt113 kt5 h 53 min12:41 am CDT (05:41 UTC)
6,500 ft270° at 13 kt+4 kt16 °C116 kt5 h 44 min12:32 am CDT (05:32 UTC)
8,500 ft270° at 17 kt+5 kt12 °C115 kt5 h 47 min12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC)
10,500 ft280° at 18 kt+3 kt8 °C117 kt5 h 41 min12:29 am CDT (05:29 UTC)
12,500 ft290° at 20 kt04 °C120 kt5 h 32 min12:20 am CDT (05:20 UTC)
14,500 ft300° at 19 kt−2 kt0 °C122 kt5 h 27 min12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
16,500 ft310° at 20 kt−5 kt-4 °C125 kt5 h 19 min12:07 am CDT (05:07 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180310° at 20 kt−6 kt-7 °C126 kt5 h 17 min12:05 am CDT (05:05 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240320° at 27 kt−14 kt-18 °C134 kt4 h 58 min11:46 pm CDT (04:46 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300320° at 47 kt−20 kt-33 °C140 kt4 h 45 min11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340320° at 52 kt−25 kt-42 °C145 kt4 h 35 min11:23 pm CDT (04:23 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390320° at 53 kt−23 kt-50 °C143 kt4 h 39 min11:27 pm CDT (04:27 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
JOTused from 0 nm out; 30 nm from the line230/11290/12 16°300/19 10°320/19 4°300/17 -9°330/31 -20°320/49 -37°320/53 -45°320/67 -49°
SPIused from 99 nm out; 56 nm from the line210/13260/11 17°270/18 10°290/21 4°310/20 -8°330/25 -19°320/49 -34°320/60 -44°320/59 -50°
CGIused from 199 nm out; 59 nm from the line250/10290/12 17°290/18 11°300/22 5°320/25 -8°330/30 -18°320/53 -33°320/66 -42°320/56 -50°
MEMused from 348 nm out; 56 nm from the line240/9280/14 17°280/20 12°290/25 5°320/25 -6°330/31 -18°320/52 -32°330/58 -41°320/42 -50°
LITused from 447 nm out; 56 nm from the line220/12250/12 17°250/18 12°260/22 6°310/14 -5°310/25 -17°310/40 -31°310/38 -41°310/46 -52°
JANused from 546 nm out; 97 nm from the line260/6310/14 17°280/13 12°290/19 6°310/22 -5°310/28 -17°320/44 -32°330/48 -41°320/52 -51°
SHVused from 596 nm out; 84 nm from the line190/11230/19 17°230/26 12°260/15 7°280/16 -4°300/17 -15°300/34 -30°300/31 -41°310/42 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN departure VFR Weather: haze calm 6 mi none 596 ft 5:50 pm CDT (22:50 UTC)
IKK Kankakee, IL 40 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 629 ft 23:35 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL 99 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the west (270°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 754 ft 22:53 UTC
ENL Centralia, IL 199 nm out, 3 nm south of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 534 ft 23:35 UTC
MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL 248 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 411 ft 22:52 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO 278 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 341 ft 20:53 UTC
JBR Jonesboro, AR 377 nm out, 8 nm west of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 262 ft 22:53 UTC
DRP Colt, AR 417 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 238 ft 23:30 UTC
LLQ Monticello, AR 516 nm out, 12 nm west of the line VFR from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 267 ft 22:53 UTC
MLU Monroe, LA 586 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 78 ft 22:53 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA destination VFR from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 88 ft 5:53 pm CDT (22:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 754 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At AEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:23 pm CDT (04:23 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for AEX
  • From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for GYY, the departure
  • From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 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 GYY 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at AEX 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AEX is before sunrise there (7:10 am CDT (12:10 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
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Gary/Chicago International, Alexandria International.