Rickenbacker International to Ted Stevens Anchorage International LCK → ANC
2,711 nautical miles (3,120 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 321°, about 328° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 21 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:46 pm AKDT (05:46 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LCK is IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 5 knots; ANC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 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: 72 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 route from 319 to 448 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 548 to 747 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 LCK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (CMH, FWA, MKG, GRB, DLH, INL, GFK, MOT, GGW, GPI, SEA). 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 | 070° at 6 kt | −5 kt | -1 °C | 125 kt | 21 h 41 min | 9:46 pm AKDT (05:46 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 060° at 5 kt | −4 kt | 4 °C | 124 kt | 21 h 52 min | 9:57 pm AKDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 080° at 2 kt | −3 kt | 1 °C | 123 kt | 22 h 02 min | 10:07 pm AKDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 350° at 2 kt | −2 kt | -1 °C | 122 kt | 22 h 13 min | 10:18 pm AKDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 6 kt | −1 kt | -4 °C | 121 kt | 22 h 24 min | 10:29 pm AKDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 11 kt | +3 kt | -7 °C | 117 kt | 23 h 10 min | 11:15 pm AKDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | +7 kt | -10 °C | 113 kt | 23 h 59 min | 12:04 am AKDT (08:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 20 kt | +10 kt | -13 °C | 110 kt | 24 h 39 min | 12:44 am AKDT (08:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 20 kt | +10 kt | -23 °C | 110 kt | 24 h 39 min | 12:44 am AKDT (08:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 27 kt | +18 kt | -38 °C | 102 kt | 26 h 35 min | 2:40 am AKDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 30 kt | +22 kt | -45 °C | 98 kt | 27 h 40 min | 3:45 am AKDT (11:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 40 kt | +32 kt | -48 °C | 88 kt | 30 h 48 min | 6:53 am AKDT (14:53 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH | used from 0 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| FWA | used from 50 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| MKG | used from 199 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| GRB | used from 299 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| DLH | used from 498 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 080/28 | 240/21 15° | 250/26 9° | 250/32 3° | 260/42 -11° | 270/40 -21° | 260/43 -36° | 260/46 -46° | 260/65 -54° |
| INL | used from 648 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 080/23 | L/V 9° | 260/22 5° | 260/27 0° | 260/43 -11° | 270/47 -21° | 270/57 -36° | 270/54 -47° | 270/69 -56° |
| GFK | used from 797 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 070/18 | 100/10 9° | 250/11 6° | 250/27 1° | 250/34 -10° | 260/43 -21° | 260/39 -36° | 260/36 -46° | 260/59 -53° |
| MOT | used from 947 nm out; 207 nm from the line | 120/14 5° | 200/20 4° | 230/33 1° | 250/39 -11° | 250/50 -21° | 240/61 -37° | 250/56 -45° | 260/68 -51° | |
| GGW | used from 1196 nm out; 352 nm from the line | 110/23 0° | 130/20 -2° | 170/24 -3° | 230/44 -11° | 220/51 -21° | 210/52 -39° | 220/64 -44° | 240/85 -48° | |
| GPI | used from 1445 nm out; 490 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| SEA | used from 1844 nm out; 697 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCK Columbus, OH | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 800 ft | 743 ft | 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC) |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 189 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 4 mi | none | 873 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 359 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 695 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| DLH Duluth, MN | 588 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 1,427 ft | 08:02 UTC |
| CYQH Watson Lake, | 2083 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 15 mi | 6,000 ft | 2,225 ft | 07:00 UTC |
| CYXY Whitehorse, | 2272 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 10 knots | 15 mi | none | 2,317 ft | 07:00 UTC |
| VDZ Valdez, AK | 2601 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 128 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| ANC Anchorage, AK | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 151 ft | 11:53 pm AKDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ANC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:46 pm AKDT (05:46 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ANC
- From Sun 10:00 pm AKDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am AKDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm AKDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for LCK, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8889 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZAN
- 6/8772 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · starts tomorrow · ZAN
Daylight
Sunset at LCK 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at ANC 6:54 pm AKDT (02:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:37 pm AKDT (03:37 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ANC is after sunset there (6:57 pm AKDT (02:57 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: Rickenbacker International, Ted Stevens Anchorage International.