Plan a flight · Mon 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field LEX → MSN

375 nautical miles (431 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 326°, about 330° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC). Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) 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: 2 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). Over the first 148 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 LEX.

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

E170 at 100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm north, 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. 20 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
35 nm north (360°) of HYK
Time
11:01 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Remarks
lil dark
B737 at 100 ft, 29 nm northeast, 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 49 nm along the route, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
10:24 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
B739 climbing, 28 nm northeast, 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 49 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 west cvg
Time
10:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
tops 1,100 ft
B763 at 100 ft, 28 nm northeast, 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 49 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
E75S at 24,000 ft, 41 nm northeast, 7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC): light chop turbulence from 24,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 148 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MZZ UA /OV MZZ/TM 1107/FL240/TP E75S/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 250-240
```
Report
a routine report filed through MZZ
Where
over MZZ
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
occasional light chop from 25,000 ft to 24,000 ft
B38M at 32,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. 148 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast 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
A21N at 31,000 ft, 9 nm west, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 187 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAF
Where
over BVT
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ9 at 38,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC): no turbulence. 217 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXI UA /OV OXI/TM 1106/FL380/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXI
Where
over OXI
Time
11:06 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
B739 at 34,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. 345 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
10:58 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none

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 5 forecast points nearest it (LOU, CVG, IND, JOT, DBQ). 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	270° at 20 kt	+12 kt		108 kt	3 h 28 min	9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC)
6,500 ft	280° at 19 kt	+13 kt	14 °C	107 kt	3 h 30 min	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)
8,500 ft	270° at 17 kt	+10 kt	10 °C	110 kt	3 h 25 min	9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC)
10,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	+11 kt	6 °C	109 kt	3 h 26 min	9:49 am CDT (14:49 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 20 kt	+13 kt	3 °C	107 kt	3 h 30 min	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	+16 kt	0 °C	104 kt	3 h 36 min	9:59 am CDT (14:59 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 25 kt	+19 kt	-5 °C	101 kt	3 h 43 min	10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 27 kt	+22 kt	-7 °C	98 kt	3 h 50 min	10:13 am CDT (15:13 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 35 kt	+26 kt	-20 °C	94 kt	3 h 59 min	10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 36 kt	+24 kt	-35 °C	96 kt	3 h 54 min	10:17 am CDT (15:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 52 kt	+44 kt	-42 °C	76 kt	4 h 56 min	11:19 am CDT (16:19 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 62 kt	+55 kt	-50 °C	65 kt	5 h 46 min	12:09 pm CDT (17:09 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
LOU	used from 0 nm out; 37 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°
CVG	used from 49 nm out; 38 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°
IND	used from 99 nm out; 10 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
JOT	used from 197 nm out; 47 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
DBQ	used from 345 nm out; 77 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -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: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC)
FFT Frankfort, KY	20 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	812 ft	10:53 UTC
OVO North Vernon, IN	79 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				757 ft
BAK Columbus, IN	99 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	100 ft	656 ft	10:45 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	128 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	796 ft	10:54 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	177 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	10:54 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	246 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	10:50 UTC
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	286 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 24,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	24,000 ft	758 ft	10:52 UTC
DKB De Kalb, IL	296 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	912 ft	11:15 UTC
JVL Janesville, WI	345 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	807 ft	10:45 UTC
MSN Madison, WI	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	22,000 ft	886 ft	5:53 am CDT (10:53 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 MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSN

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 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 now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.