Rickenbacker International to MC Allen International LCK → MFE
1,121 nautical miles (1,290 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 235° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:48 pm CDT (17:48 UTC). Right now LCK is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 knots; MFE is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) 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: 1 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 288 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 LCK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 39,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV APE/TM 0840/FL390/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP 390 NEG 350-330
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over APE
- Time
- 08:40 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 39,000 ft no from 35,000 ft to 33,000 ft
- B763 at 200 ft, 22 nm northwest, 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 89 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 1 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 08:05 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- sky obscured from 200 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B752 climbing, 24 nm northwest, 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 99 nm along the route, 24 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 07:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- B001 overcast T015
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 12 forecast points nearest it (CMH, CVG, LOU, BNA, MEM, JAN, SHV, LCH, HOU, PSX, CRP, BRO). 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 | 230° at 10 kt | +10 kt | 110 kt | 10 h 11 min | 2:14 pm CDT (19:14 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 9 kt | +10 kt | 16 °C | 110 kt | 10 h 11 min | 2:14 pm CDT (19:14 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 9 kt | +8 kt | 13 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 01 min | 2:04 pm CDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 9 kt | +6 kt | 9 °C | 114 kt | 9 h 50 min | 1:53 pm CDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 9 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 9 h 45 min | 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +6 kt | 1 °C | 114 kt | 9 h 50 min | 1:53 pm CDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | +7 kt | -3 °C | 113 kt | 9 h 55 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 16 kt | +8 kt | -6 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 01 min | 2:04 pm CDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 19 kt | +11 kt | -16 °C | 109 kt | 10 h 17 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 26 kt | +3 kt | -31 °C | 117 kt | 9 h 35 min | 1:38 pm CDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 33 kt | +2 kt | -41 °C | 118 kt | 9 h 30 min | 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 37 kt | −8 kt | -51 °C | 128 kt | 8 h 45 min | 12:48 pm CDT (17:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH | used from 0 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
| CVG | used from 50 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| LOU | used from 99 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| BNA | used from 248 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| MEM | used from 347 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| JAN | used from 546 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 240/10 | 260/15 18° | 280/10 11° | 290/6 6° | 290/15 -5° | 300/15 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 330/38 -40° | 330/39 -51° |
| SHV | used from 595 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| LCH | used from 695 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 170/21 | 160/23 18° | 170/13 13° | 170/6 8° | 300/12 -7° | 280/16 -14° | 320/27 -30° | 330/23 -41° | 340/38 -51° |
| HOU | used from 794 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 180/22 | 180/20 16° | 170/7 15° | L/V 8° | 220/11 -6° | 260/15 -13° | 310/20 -30° | 320/20 -40° | 350/32 -51° |
| PSX | used from 893 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 160/24 | 190/17 17° | 200/10 15° | L/V 8° | 260/7 -5° | 220/10 -12° | 310/11 -30° | 320/13 -40° | 010/29 -51° |
| CRP | used from 992 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 140/21 | 160/22 17° | 180/14 13° | 210/6 9° | 270/10 -5° | 200/8 -13° | L/V -29° | L/V -40° | 030/28 -51° |
| BRO | used from 1092 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 160/15 | 160/15 18° | 170/11 14° | 150/7 9° | L/V -4° | 170/6 -15° | 100/15 -29° | 100/14 -41° | 040/26 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCK Columbus, OH | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 1,000 ft | 743 ft | 4:55 am EDT (08:55 UTC) |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 50 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 600 ft | 1,076 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 159 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 500 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| CKV Clarksville, TN | 288 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Weather: fog | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | none | 549 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 377 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GLH Greenville, MS | 546 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 130 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| MLU Monroe, LA | 625 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| IER Natchitoches, LA | 695 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 121 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| EFD Houston, TX | 863 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| BYY Bay City, TX | 913 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 24,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 24,000 ft | 44 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| HRL Harlingen, TX | 1102 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 36 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| MFE Mc Allen, TX | destination | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 107 ft | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,076 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MFE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:48 pm CDT (17:48 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MFE
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 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
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 89 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at LCK 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at MFE 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 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, MC Allen International.