Kansas City International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International MCI → SDF
426 nautical miles (490 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 096°, about 094° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:29 am EDT (04:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 9 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 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: 1,165 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
- B38M at 23,700 ft, 34 nm north, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 337 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 30 nm south (190°) of TTH
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 (MKC, COU, STL, EVV, LOU). 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 | 240° at 11 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 3 h 20 min | 1:16 am EDT (05:16 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 12 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 13 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 07 min | 1:03 am EDT (05:03 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 21 kt | −22 kt | 9 °C | 142 kt | 3 h | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 6 °C | 143 kt | 2 h 59 min | 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 2 °C | 142 kt | 3 h | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | −21 kt | -2 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 01 min | 12:57 am EDT (04:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -6 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 03 min | 12:59 am EDT (04:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 03 min | 12:59 am EDT (04:59 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 24 kt | −19 kt | -19 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 04 min | 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 43 kt | −34 kt | -33 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 46 min | 12:42 am EDT (04:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 49 kt | −41 kt | -42 °C | 161 kt | 2 h 39 min | 12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 54 kt | −47 kt | -50 °C | 167 kt | 2 h 33 min | 12:29 am EDT (04:29 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 20 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| COU | used from 49 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| STL | used from 148 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| EVV | used from 297 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| LOU | used from 396 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
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 (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC) |
| GPH Mosby, MO | 20 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 777 ft | 22:55 UTC |
| MHL Marshall, MO | 69 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 778 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 119 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| MYJ Mexico, MO | 139 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 822 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| STL St Louis, MO | 208 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 617 ft | 01:51 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 218 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 01:50 UTC |
| SLO Salem, IL | 267 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 573 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| AJG Mount Carmel, IL | 327 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: sky obscured at 700 feet Weather: haze | calm | 1.25 mi | 700 ft | 429 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 346 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 421 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| TEL Tell City, IN | 386 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | no report just now | 659 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 8:56 pm EDT (00:56 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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:29 am EDT (04:29 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 4 nm from the route, 119 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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
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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.