Kansas City International to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International MCI → CVG
468 nautical miles (538 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 089°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 12 knots; CVG is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 3 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: 1,035 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 20 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 MCI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A21N at 17,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 398 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 45 nm south (183°) of IND
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- clear
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- clear since departing KIND southbound
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (MKC, COU, STL, SPI, EVV, IND, 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 20 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 3 h 22 min | 2:28 am EDT (06:28 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 13 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 9 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 26 min | 2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | −13 kt | 6 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 31 min | 2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 2 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 30 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -2 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 19 min | 2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -6 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 18 min | 2:24 am EDT (06:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -19 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 12 min | 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 34 kt | −31 kt | -33 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 06 min | 2:12 am EDT (06:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 50 kt | −45 kt | -41 °C | 165 kt | 2 h 50 min | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 51 kt | −45 kt | -51 °C | 165 kt | 2 h 50 min | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 50 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| STL | used from 149 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| SPI | used from 199 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| EVV | used from 298 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| IND | used from 348 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| CVG | used from 398 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCI Kansas City, MO | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| GPH Mosby, MO | 20 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 777 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| MHL Marshall, MO | 70 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 778 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| MBY Moberly, MO | 109 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 866 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 179 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 709 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 219 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 02:50 UTC |
| TAZ Taylorville, IL | 249 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | no report just now | 622 ft | ||||
| MTO Mattoon/Charleston, IL | 298 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 722 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 348 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 589 ft | 03:00 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 378 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 845 ft | 03:02 UTC |
| OVO North Vernon, IN | 428 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 757 ft | ||||
| CVG Covington, KY | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,027 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CVG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CVG
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MCI, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, 119 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CVG is before sunrise there (7:45 am EDT (11:45 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: Kansas City International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International.