Indianapolis International to Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field IND → MKC
386 nautical miles (445 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 267°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 12:35 pm CDT (17:35 UTC). Right now IND is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots; MKC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22. 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: 2 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 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 129 nm of the route.
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 IND.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- EMBRAER at 400 ft, 33 nm southeast, 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC): haze, remarks: ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft. At the departure end, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1337/FL004/TP EMBRAER/WX HZ/RM ILS RWY 23 CEILING 004
- Report
- a routine report filed through BAK
- Where
- over KBAK
- Time
- 13:37 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- EMBRAER
- Weather
- haze
- Remarks
- ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft
- G280 at 200 ft, 33 nm southeast, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): fog, remarks: ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground. At the departure end, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1310/FL002/TP G280/WX FG/RM ILS RWY 23 RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT AQUIRED AT 200 FEET AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BAK
- Where
- over KBAK
- Time
- 13:10 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- G280
- Weather
- fog
- Remarks
- ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 41 nm north, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MZZ UA /OV MZZ240015/TM 1103/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through MZZ
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (240°) of MZZ
- Time
- 11:03 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light
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 5 forecast points nearest it (IND, SPI, STL, COU, MKC). 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 | 260° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 96 kt | 4 h 01 min | 12:58 pm CDT (17:58 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 15 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 45 min | 12:42 pm CDT (17:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 11 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 38 min | 12:35 pm CDT (17:35 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 8 °C | 104 kt | 3 h 43 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 4 °C | 102 kt | 3 h 47 min | 12:44 pm CDT (17:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 0 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 54 min | 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -4 °C | 96 kt | 4 h 01 min | 12:58 pm CDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 26 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 06 min | 1:03 pm CDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -19 °C | 86 kt | 4 h 29 min | 1:26 pm CDT (18:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 50 kt | +49 kt | -32 °C | 71 kt | 5 h 26 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 57 kt | +55 kt | -41 °C | 65 kt | 5 h 56 min | 2:53 pm CDT (19:53 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 59 kt | +51 kt | -49 °C | 69 kt | 5 h 36 min | 2:33 pm CDT (19:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| SPI | used from 99 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 198 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| COU | used from 248 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKC | used from 347 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND Indianapolis, IN | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 24,000 feet, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC) |
| GPC Greencastle, IN | 20 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 842 ft | 13:35 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 50 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 119 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 13:54 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 159 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 208 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 709 ft | 13:35 UTC |
| HAE Hannibal, MO | 238 nm out, 18 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 13:35 UTC |
| MBY Moberly, MO | 287 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 866 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| MHL Marshall, MO | 327 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 778 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| HIG Higginsville, MO | 347 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 840 ft | ||||
| MKC Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 866 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:35 pm CDT (17:35 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKC
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for IND, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 277 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at IND 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 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: Indianapolis International, Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field.