Plan a flight · Mon 10:38 am EDT (14:38 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Manistee County/Blacker LEX → MBL

382 nautical miles (439 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 349°, about 353° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC). Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 knots; MBL 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: 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). Near the route, 88 nm along 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 LEX.

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

E170 at 28,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 284 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GRR UA /OV VIO/TM 1310/FL280/TP E170/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through GRR
Where
over VIO
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
BE58 climbing, 2 nm northeast, 10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX045002/TM 1408/FLDURC/TP BE58/SK OVC 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm northeast (045°) of LEX
Time
14:08 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE58
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
BE30 climbing, 2 nm south, 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX180002/TM 1340/FLDURC/TP BE30/SK TOPS 013
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm south (180°) of LEX
Time
13:40 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE30
Sky
tops 1,300 ft
E55P climbing, 2 nm west, 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX270002/TM 1222/FLDURC/TP E55P/SK VV002 TOPS 018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm west (270°) of LEX
Time
12:22 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft, tops 1,800 ft
A319 climbing, 3 nm northeast, 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX045003/TM 1155/FLDURC/TP A319/SK TOPS 020
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
3 nm northeast (045°) of LEX
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A319
Sky
tops 2,000 ft
B739 at 17,000 ft, 12 nm west, 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC): remarks: clear and smooth. At the departure end, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV FFT/TM 1413/FL170/TP B739/RM CLEAR AND SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over FFT
Time
14:13 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Remarks
clear and smooth
E170 at 26,000 ft, 10 nm northeast, 10:17 am EDT (14:17 UTC): no turbulence. 20 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FLM220015/TM 1417/FL260/TP E170/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
15 nm southwest (220°) of FLM
Time
14:17 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
none
AC90 at 28,000 ft, 33 nm west, 8:17 am EDT (12:17 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing. 39 nm along the route, 33 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV IIU010030/TM 1217/FL280/TP AC90/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
30 nm north (010°) of IIU
Time
12:17 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
AC90
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Icing
none
BCS3 climbing, 7 nm east, 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC): overcast from 20,000 ft to 500 ft. 59 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1418/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK OVC002 TOPS 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
14:18 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
overcast from 200 ft, tops 500 ft
E75S descending, 7 nm east, 9:50 am EDT (13:50 UTC): a broken layer above 20,000 ft, remarks: cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet. 59 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1350/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK BKN002/RM CVG ARRIVAL, RUNWAY INSIGHT AT 250 FEET
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:50 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
a broken layer from 200 ft
Remarks
cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet
E75L descending, 7 nm east, 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft. 59 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1338/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK VV001/RM RWY 18L ARRIVAL, PICKED UP APPROACH LIGHTS AT MINIMUMS, 001
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft
CRJ9 descending, 7 nm east, 9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet. 59 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1321/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK VV001/RM RWY 18R ALS INSIGHT AT 150 FEET
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:21 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet
E75S at 100 ft, 7 nm east, 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC): sky obscured. 59 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1257/FL001/TP E75S/SK VV001
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
12:57 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
B38M climbing, 7 nm east, 8:10 am EDT (12:10 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 59 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1210/FLDURC/TP B38M/SK TOPS 005/WX 1/16SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
12:10 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
tops 500 ft
Weather
1/16SM

13 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 (CVG, FWA, MKG). 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	250° at 22 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	3 h 06 min	1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 22 kt	0	14 °C	120 kt	3 h 11 min	1:49 pm EDT (17:49 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 24 kt	+2 kt	9 °C	118 kt	3 h 14 min	1:52 pm EDT (17:52 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 26 kt	+8 kt	6 °C	112 kt	3 h 25 min	2:03 pm EDT (18:03 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 27 kt	+13 kt	4 °C	107 kt	3 h 34 min	2:12 pm EDT (18:12 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 28 kt	+12 kt	0 °C	108 kt	3 h 32 min	2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 28 kt	+12 kt	-5 °C	108 kt	3 h 32 min	2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 29 kt	+12 kt	-8 °C	108 kt	3 h 32 min	2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 36 kt	+17 kt	-20 °C	103 kt	3 h 43 min	2:21 pm EDT (18:21 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 40 kt	+12 kt	-37 °C	108 kt	3 h 32 min	2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 51 kt	+26 kt	-40 °C	94 kt	4 h 04 min	2:42 pm EDT (18:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 59 kt	+44 kt	-48 °C	76 kt	5 h 02 min	3:40 pm EDT (19:40 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
CVG	used from 0 nm out; 37 nm from the line	260/20	280/18 15°	270/19 8°	290/30 5°	280/31 -7°	290/37 -19°	280/46 -35°	290/55 -40°	310/57 -48°
FWA	used from 98 nm out; 57 nm from the line	250/18	260/22 15°	260/27 7°	290/26 6°	290/28 -8°	290/39 -20°	280/36 -37°	290/54 -39°	310/60 -48°
MKG	used from 245 nm out; 49 nm from the line	240/27	240/26 15°	270/27 9°	280/27 5°	280/28 -9°	280/32 -22°	270/41 -38°	290/44 -41°	300/60 -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
LEX Lexington, KY	departure	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	4 mi	200 ft	979 ft	10:09 am EDT (14:09 UTC)
CVG Covington, KY	59 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 25,000 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	0.5 mi	200 ft	896 ft	13:52 UTC
AID Anderson, IN	127 nm out, 23 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	919 ft	12:15 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN	137 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	937 ft	13:53 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	176 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 15,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	8 mi	25,000 ft	814 ft	13:54 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	254 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	7 mi	none	873 ft	13:53 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	294 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	793 ft	13:53 UTC
MKG Muskegon, MI	313 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	25,000 ft	628 ft	13:55 UTC
LDM Ludington, MI	362 nm out, 11 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	646 ft	14:15 UTC
MBL Manistee, MI	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	621 ft	9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 979 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MBL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC)

Wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 24,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MBL

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 24,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, gusting to 16, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 24,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet

The forecast for LEX, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 4 nm from the route, 59 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at MBL 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Blue Grass Airport, Manistee County/Blacker.