Plan a flight · Mon 11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC)

Manistee County/Blacker to Blue Grass Airport MBL → LEX

382 nautical miles (439 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 168°, about 174° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 43-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:43 pm EDT (17:43 UTC). Right now MBL is VFR, wind calm; LEX is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the last 29 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 MBL.

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. 98 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
B39M at 34,000 ft, 38 nm west, 10:01 am EDT (14:01 UTC): no turbulence. 88 nm along the route, 38 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIV UA /OV PMM300030/TM 1401/FL340/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIV
Where
30 nm northwest (300°) of PMM
Time
14:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
B752 at 32,000 ft, 16 nm west, 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC): light chop turbulence. 108 nm along the route, 16 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIV UA /OV PMM/TM 1303/FL320/TP B752/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIV
Where
over PMM
Time
13:03 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light chop
A320 at 3,000 ft, 38 nm east, 9:35 am EDT (13:35 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 274 nm along the route, 38 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 1335/FL030/TP A320/SK BUNKN-TOP013
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
13:35 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
BUNKN-TOP013
E75L at 26,000 ft, 31 nm east, 9:19 am EDT (13:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing up to 26,000 ft. 274 nm along the route, 31 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DQN180005/TM 1319/FL260/TP E75L/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG BLO 260
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
5 nm south (180°) of DQN
Time
13:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
no below 26,000 ft
CRJ9 climbing, 38 nm east, 8:46 am EDT (12:46 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 274 nm along the route, 38 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 1246/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK T014
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
12:46 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T014
CRJ9 at 1,800 ft, 38 nm east, 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 274 nm along the route, 38 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 1245/FL018/TP CRJ9/SK T014
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
12:45 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T014
CRJ9 at 29,000 ft, 44 nm east, 10:39 am EDT (14:39 UTC): no turbulence. 294 nm along the route, 44 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV MXQ320015/TM 1439/FL290/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
15 nm northwest (320°) of MXQ
Time
14:39 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
EMBRAER at 400 ft, 45 nm west, 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC): haze, remarks: ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft. 294 nm along the route, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1337/FL004/TP EMBRAER/WX HZ/RM ILS RWY 23 CEILING 004
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAK
Where
over KBAK
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
EMBRAER
Weather
haze
Remarks
ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft
G280 at 200 ft, 45 nm west, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): fog, remarks: ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground. 294 nm along the route, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1310/FL002/TP G280/WX FG/RM ILS RWY 23 RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT AQUIRED AT 200 FEET AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAK
Where
over KBAK
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
G280
Weather
fog
Remarks
ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground
BCS3 climbing, 7 nm east, 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC): overcast from 20,000 ft to 500 ft. 323 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. 323 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. 323 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. 323 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

6 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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (MKG, FWA, CVG). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	+3 kt		117 kt	3 h 16 min	2:38 pm EDT (18:38 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 21 kt	+1 kt		119 kt	3 h 13 min	2:35 pm EDT (18:35 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 23 kt	−1 kt	12 °C	121 kt	3 h 09 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 24 kt	−5 kt	8 °C	125 kt	3 h 03 min	2:25 pm EDT (18:25 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 27 kt	−11 kt	6 °C	131 kt	2 h 55 min	2:17 pm EDT (18:17 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 28 kt	−13 kt	2 °C	133 kt	2 h 52 min	2:14 pm EDT (18:14 UTC)
15,500 ft	280° at 28 kt	−12 kt	-2 °C	132 kt	2 h 54 min	2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 29 kt	−12 kt	-7 °C	132 kt	2 h 54 min	2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 29 kt	−12 kt	-8 °C	132 kt	2 h 54 min	2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 35 kt	−17 kt	-20 °C	137 kt	2 h 47 min	2:09 pm EDT (18:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 41 kt	−12 kt	-37 °C	132 kt	2 h 54 min	2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 51 kt	−26 kt	-40 °C	146 kt	2 h 37 min	1:59 pm EDT (17:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 59 kt	−43 kt	-48 °C	163 kt	2 h 21 min	1:43 pm EDT (17:43 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
MKG	used from 0 nm out; 43 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°
FWA	used from 147 nm out; 32 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°
CVG	used from 245 nm out; 53 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°

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
MBL Manistee, MI	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	621 ft	10:56 am EDT (14:56 UTC)
LDM Ludington, MI	20 nm out, 11 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	646 ft	15:15 UTC
MKG Muskegon, MI	68 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	25,000 ft	628 ft	14:55 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	127 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	14:53 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	157 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	777 ft	15:15 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	205 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	814 ft	14:54 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN	245 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	937 ft	14:53 UTC
CEV Connersville, IN	284 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				866 ft
CVG Covington, KY	323 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	6 mi	none	896 ft	15:16 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	8 mi	none	979 ft	11:08 am EDT (15:08 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 LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:43 pm EDT (17:43 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for LEX

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

The forecast for MBL, the departure

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

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, 323 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at MBL 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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: Manistee County/Blacker, Blue Grass Airport.