Laguardia Airport to Oakland County International LGA → PTK
442 nautical miles (509 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 288°, about 300° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 10:34 am EDT (14:34 UTC). Right now LGA is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 7 knots; PTK is IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 88 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 79 to 246 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 LGA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 climbing, 15 nm southeast, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 15 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JFK UA /OV JFK150005/TM 1042/FLDURC/TP A320/SK 010-TOP024
- Report
- a routine report filed through JFK
- Where
- 5 nm southeast (150°) of JFK
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- 010-TOP024
- B737 climbing, 35 nm east, 6:05 am EDT (10:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 35 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ISP UA /OV ISP/TM 1005/FLDURC/TP B737/SK BASES 009
- Report
- a routine report filed through ISP
- Where
- over ISP
- Time
- 10:05 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- bases 900 ft
- C208 at 2,700 ft, 3 nm southeast, 6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC): remarks: zob. 226 nm along the route, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BFD UA /OV BFD/TM 1001/FL027/TP C208/SK BASE027 TOP043/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through BFD
- Where
- over BFD
- Time
- 10:01 UTC
- Height
- at 2,700 ft
- Aircraft
- C208
- Sky
- BASE027 TOP043
- Remarks
- zob
- B739 at 9,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- 26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
- Time
- 10:33 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- clear
- Wind
- from 295° at 13 knots
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 (JFK, AVP, PSB, BUF, CLE). 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 | 360° at 16 kt | +4 kt | 12 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 49 min | 10:34 am EDT (14:34 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 360° at 18 kt | +5 kt | 11 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 51 min | 10:36 am EDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 350° at 19 kt | +8 kt | 9 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 57 min | 10:42 am EDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 21 kt | +11 kt | 5 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 03 min | 10:48 am EDT (14:48 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | +14 kt | 1 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 10 min | 10:55 am EDT (14:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +16 kt | -3 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 15 min | 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +18 kt | -7 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 20 min | 11:05 am EDT (15:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 28 kt | +20 kt | -10 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 25 min | 11:10 am EDT (15:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 29 kt | +20 kt | -21 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 25 min | 11:10 am EDT (15:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 37 kt | +26 kt | -37 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 42 min | 11:27 am EDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 46 kt | +38 kt | -44 °C | 82 kt | 5 h 23 min | 12:08 pm EDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 43 kt | +36 kt | -51 °C | 84 kt | 5 h 16 min | 12:01 pm EDT (16:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFK | used from 0 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 020/25 | 290/9 12° | 300/12 7° | 320/14 3° | 290/17 -10° | 240/27 -21° | 240/44 -36° | 240/53 -41° | 240/51 -50° |
| AVP | used from 49 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 010/20 | 020/24 11° | 360/19 8° | 350/23 2° | 320/24 -11° | 330/25 -22° | 330/27 -37° | 310/28 -42° | 290/30 -50° |
| PSB | used from 147 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 020/21 12° | 360/28 7° | 360/29 1° | 350/33 -10° | 350/42 -22° | 350/49 -37° | 340/63 -43° | 350/39 -52° | |
| BUF | used from 246 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 300/11 | 330/15 11° | 340/26 8° | 330/28 2° | 340/31 -10° | 340/32 -21° | 340/52 -37° | 340/59 -46° | 330/66 -53° |
| CLE | used from 295 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGA New York, NY | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 20 ft | 5:51 am EDT (09:51 UTC) |
| CDW Caldwell, NJ | 20 nm out, 0 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 172 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA | 88 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 961 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| WBW Wilkes-Barre, PA | 98 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 543 ft | ||||
| IPT Williamsport, PA | 138 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 528 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| OYM St Marys, PA | 216 nm out, 23 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,934 ft | ||||
| BFD Bradford, PA | 226 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,143 ft | 10:36 UTC |
| ERI Erie, PA | 295 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| DET Detroit, MI | 423 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 9 mi | 800 ft | 624 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 500 ft | 980 ft | 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,143 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PTK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:34 am EDT (14:34 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PTK
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for LGA, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 5/2811 NEW YORK, NY, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 20 October · ZNY
Daylight
Sunset at LGA 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC), at PTK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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: Laguardia Airport, Oakland County International.