The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 7:08 am EDT (11:08 UTC)

Indianapolis International to Oakland County International IND → PTK

220 nautical miles (253 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 035°, about 040° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC). Right now IND is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; PTK is IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 5 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: 8 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

  • 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 whole 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

  • B38M at 32,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. 40 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest 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
  • CRJ2 at 5,500 ft, 3 nm northwest, 5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC): mist. 90 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 0945/FL055/TP CRJ2/WX MIST
    Report
    a routine report filed through FWA
    Where
    over FWA
    Time
    09:45 UTC
    Height
    at 5,500 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ2
    Weather
    shallow st
  • MD83 at 2,500 ft, 25 nm southeast, 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. 160 nm along the route, 25 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    10:43 UTC
    Height
    at 2,500 ft
    Aircraft
    MD83
    Remarks
    base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
  • CL35 at 6,000 ft, 6 nm west, 6:47 am EDT (10:47 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 2,600 ft; clear from 2,600 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear above 2,600 ft. At the destination end, 6 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV PTK270006/TM 1047/FL060/TP CL35/SK OVC014-TOP026/RM CLEAR ABOVE 026
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    6 nm west (270°) of PTK
    Time
    10:47 UTC
    Height
    at 6,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CL35
    Sky
    overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 2,600 ft
    Remarks
    clear above 2,600 ft
  • B739 at 9,000 ft, 15 nm east, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 15 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
    Time
    10:33 UTC
    Height
    at 9,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B739
    Sky
    clear
    Wind
    from 295° at 13 knots
    Turbulence
    none
    Icing
    none
    Remarks
    during the descent

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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (IND, FWA, CLE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft280° at 18 kt−9 kt129 kt1 h 42 min8:50 am EDT (12:50 UTC)
5,500 ft300° at 16 kt−3 kt123 kt1 h 47 min8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC)
7,500 ft300° at 15 kt−3 kt12 °C123 kt1 h 47 min8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC)
9,500 ft290° at 15 kt−5 kt8 °C125 kt1 h 46 min8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC)
11,500 ft280° at 17 kt−7 kt4 °C127 kt1 h 44 min8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC)
13,500 ft290° at 19 kt−7 kt0 °C127 kt1 h 44 min8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC)
15,500 ft290° at 22 kt−6 kt-3 °C126 kt1 h 45 min8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC)
17,500 ft290° at 25 kt−6 kt-6 °C126 kt1 h 45 min8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 26 kt−6 kt-7 °C126 kt1 h 45 min8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240280° at 30 kt−11 kt-19 °C131 kt1 h 41 min8:49 am EDT (12:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300280° at 34 kt−13 kt-35 °C133 kt1 h 39 min8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340300° at 49 kt−9 kt-44 °C129 kt1 h 42 min8:50 am EDT (12:50 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390300° at 63 kt−5 kt-52 °C125 kt1 h 46 min8:54 am EDT (12:54 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
INDused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line270/22290/19 15°270/19 8°270/18 4°290/28 -7°280/35 -20°270/37 -34°300/51 -42°300/61 -51°
FWAused from 50 nm out; 16 nm from the line270/20300/16 15°290/14 10°280/17 3°290/25 -7°280/30 -19°280/34 -35°290/48 -44°300/64 -52°
CLEused from 200 nm out; 102 nm from the line310/7350/20 14°340/16 9°320/21 2°320/32 -8°330/34 -20°330/45 -36°320/60 -45°320/64 -51°

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
IND Indianapolis, IN departure VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet from the south (170°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 796 ft 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC)
AID Anderson, IN 40 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 919 ft 10:55 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN 50 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 937 ft 10:53 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN 90 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog from the south (180°) at 4 knots 2 mi none 814 ft 10:54 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI 170 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Weather: mist from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots 3 mi none 1,000 ft 10:56 UTC
ARB Ann Arbor, MI 190 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower reported, no category calm none 839 ft 10:53 UTC
PTK Pontiac, MI destination IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots 7 mi 600 ft 980 ft 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PTK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for PTK
  • From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 400 feet
  • From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for IND, the departure
  • From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 200 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

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 IND 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at PTK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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, 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: Indianapolis International, Oakland County International.