The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)

Capital Region International to Purdue University Airport LAN → LAF

177 nautical miles (204 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 217°, about 222° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LAN is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots; LAF is VFR, wind calm. 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 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). Near the route, at the departure end.

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 LAN.

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

  • A320 at 33,000 ft, 2 nm north, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 39 nm along the route, 2 nm north 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
  • CRJ2 descending, 39 nm east, 6:30 pm EDT (22:30 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 2,900 ft. At the departure end, 39 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 2230/FLDURD/TP CRJ2/SK OVC019 - TOP029
    Report
    a routine report filed through FNT
    Where
    over FNT
    Time
    22:30 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ2
    Sky
    overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 2,900 ft
  • BE36 at 3,000 ft, 49 nm southeast, 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC): no turbulence, imc. At the departure end, 49 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV SVM/TM 2220/FL030/TP BE36/SK IMC/TB SMOOTH
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    over SVM
    Time
    22:20 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    BE36
    Sky
    instrument conditions
    Turbulence
    smooth
  • F2TH at 3,100 ft, 6 nm northwest, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 39 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
    Report
    a routine report filed through AZO
    Where
    over BTL
    Time
    23:40 UTC
    Height
    at 3,100 ft
    Aircraft
    F2TH
    Remarks
    tops 3,100 ft
  • B38M at 31,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
    Report
    a routine report filed through AZO
    Where
    over AZO
    Time
    00:04 UTC
    Height
    at 31,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
  • UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 59 nm along the route, 34 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
    Report
    a routine report filed through ARP
  • E145 at 2,600 ft, 44 nm southeast, 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 98 nm along the route, 44 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
    Report
    a routine report filed through FWA
    Where
    over FWA
    Time
    23:05 UTC
    Height
    at 2,600 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
    Sky
    B026
  • CRJ9 climbing, 44 nm southeast, 6:01 pm EDT (22:01 UTC): overcast from 2,500 ft to 3,300 ft. 98 nm along the route, 44 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2201/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK OVC025 - TOPS 033
    Report
    a routine report filed through FWA
    Where
    over FWA
    Time
    22:01 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Sky
    overcast from 2,500 ft, tops 3,300 ft
  • A319 at 15,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 6:08 pm EDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 118 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest 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
  • E170 at 23,000 ft, 25 nm southeast, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 25 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
    Report
    a routine report filed through IND
    Where
    20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
    Time
    23:14 UTC
    Height
    at 23,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Turbulence
    light

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

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft340° at 14 kt−8 kt128 kt1 h 23 min10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC)
6,500 ft350° at 21 kt−14 kt14 °C134 kt1 h 19 min10:10 pm EDT (02:10 UTC)
8,500 ft350° at 23 kt−15 kt10 °C135 kt1 h 19 min10:10 pm EDT (02:10 UTC)
10,500 ft350° at 24 kt−16 kt6 °C136 kt1 h 18 min10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC)
12,500 ft350° at 26 kt−17 kt3 °C137 kt1 h 18 min10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC)
14,500 ft350° at 27 kt−17 kt-2 °C137 kt1 h 18 min10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC)
16,500 ft340° at 27 kt−16 kt-6 °C136 kt1 h 18 min10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180340° at 28 kt−15 kt-10 °C135 kt1 h 19 min10:10 pm EDT (02:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240340° at 39 kt−20 kt-22 °C140 kt1 h 16 min10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300330° at 44 kt−19 kt-37 °C139 kt1 h 16 min10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340320° at 41 kt−9 kt-44 °C129 kt1 h 22 min10:13 pm EDT (02:13 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390310° at 50 kt−6 kt-48 °C126 kt1 h 24 min10:15 pm EDT (02:15 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
MKGused from 0 nm out; 72 nm from the line250/5320/10 15°310/19 9°320/21 3°310/23 -10°330/37 -22°330/51 -38°320/44 -47°300/60 -49°
FWAused from 49 nm out; 52 nm from the line350/9350/24 15°360/25 9°360/29 4°350/31 -10°340/39 -22°330/40 -37°320/38 -43°320/48 -48°
INDused from 147 nm out; 58 nm from the line320/10350/30 16°350/32 10°350/30 4°340/31 -10°340/42 -21°340/49 -37°320/46 -41°320/47 -47°

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
LAN Lansing, MI departure marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 1,500 ft 860 ft 8:21 pm EDT (00:21 UTC)
BTL Battle Creek, MI 39 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 951 ft 23:53 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN 88 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Weather: mist calm 4 mi none 777 ft 23:35 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN 98 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 798 ft 23:54 UTC
GUS Peru, IN 147 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 810 ft 23:55 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN destination VFR calm 10+ mi none 605 ft 8:16 pm EDT (00:16 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 951 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LAF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LAF
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
The forecast for LAN, the departure
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 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 LAN 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC), at LAF 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LAF is after sunset there (7:14 pm EDT (23:14 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: Capital Region International, Purdue University Airport.