Manistee County/Blacker to Shenandoah Valley Regional MBL → SHD
490 nautical miles (564 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 135°, about 141° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC). Right now MBL is VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 5 knots; SHD is low IFR, 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: 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 TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- 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 last 380 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 40 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
- A333 descending, 6 nm north, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 180 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 36 nm southwest, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 190 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
- 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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (TVC, MKG, CLE, AGC, EKN). 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 | 290° at 14 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 3 h 43 min | 8:25 am EDT (12:25 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | −15 kt | 10 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 38 min | 8:20 am EDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 38 min | 8:20 am EDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | −17 kt | 7 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 35 min | 8:17 am EDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −21 kt | 4 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 29 min | 8:11 am EDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −25 kt | 0 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 23 min | 8:05 am EDT (12:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | −28 kt | -4 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 19 min | 8:01 am EDT (12:01 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −32 kt | -8 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 13 min | 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 32 kt | −33 kt | -9 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 12 min | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -21 °C | 155 kt | 3 h 10 min | 7:52 am EDT (11:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 43 kt | −43 kt | -36 °C | 163 kt | 3 h | 7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 52 kt | −53 kt | -44 °C | 173 kt | 2 h 50 min | 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 54 kt | −54 kt | -51 °C | 174 kt | 2 h 49 min | 7:31 am EDT (11:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVC | used from 0 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 270/31 | 280/23 15° | 260/22 8° | 260/29 4° | 280/29 -11° | 280/42 -21° | 270/42 -36° | 270/54 -47° | 290/67 -51° |
| MKG | used from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| CLE | used from 150 nm out; 86 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° |
| AGC | used from 300 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 340/11 | 350/12 11° | 360/25 7° | 340/30 2° | 340/41 -8° | 340/44 -21° | 350/59 -36° | 340/68 -42° | 340/50 -51° |
| EKN | used from 400 nm out; 12 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° |
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 | from the east (080°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 621 ft | 3:56 am EDT (07:56 UTC) |
| RQB Big Rapids, MI | 50 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: fog | variable at 2 knots | 0.5 mi | 500 ft | 994 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 110 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 8 mi | none | 860 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| YIP Detroit, MI | 170 nm out, 0 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 715 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| PCW Port Clinton, OH | 220 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 590 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| CAK Akron, OH | 290 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | 500 ft | 1,225 ft | 08:08 UTC |
| PHD New Philadelphia, OH | 310 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet | calm | 7 mi | 900 ft | 894 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HLG Wheeling, WV | 350 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 1.75 mi | 300 ft | 1,194 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 400 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 1,400 ft | 1,223 ft | 08:09 UTC |
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,201 ft | 4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,225 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SHD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC)
SHD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for MBL, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, overcast at 24,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 19,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 300 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 300 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at MBL 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC), at SHD 6:42 pm EDT (22:42 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:08 pm EDT (23:08 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: Manistee County/Blacker, Shenandoah Valley Regional.