Orlando International to Chicago O'Hare International MCO → ORD
875 nautical miles (1,007 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 340°, about 346° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 4:16 am CDT (09:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 12,287 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 358 to 527 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 378 to 408 nm out.
- 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 route from 467 to 567 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 MCO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C172 at 4,000 ft, 35 nm south, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): clear from 4,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MLB UA /OV MLB252035/TM 2330/FL040/TP C172/SK SKC 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through MLB
- Where
- 35 nm west (252°) of MLB
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- clear from 4,000 ft
- C172 at 1,100 ft, 3 nm southeast, 9:12 pm EDT (01:12 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 0112/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 01:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- smooth
- C172 at 1,100 ft, 3 nm southeast, 8:12 pm EDT (00:12 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV 1SM N/TM 0012/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- 1SM north
- Time
- 00:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- smooth
- P28A at 1,100 ft, 3 nm southeast, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,100 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 2315/FL011/TP P28A/SK SKC/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- P28A at 1,100 ft, 3 nm southeast, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,100 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 2300/FL011/TP P28A/SK SKC/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 23:00 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- P28A at 1,000 ft, 11 nm east, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): clear. At the departure end, 11 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
SFB UA /OV SFB/TM 2315/FL010/TP P28A/SK CLR
- Report
- a routine report filed through SFB
- Where
- over SFB
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- clear
- PAY1 at 21,000 ft, 30 nm west, 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC): light rime icing, -11 °C. At the departure end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
OCF UA /OV OCF160030/TM 2239/FL210/TP PAY1/TA M11/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through OCF
- Where
- 30 nm south (160°) of OCF
- Time
- 22:39 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PAY1
- Temperature
- −11 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- A321 at 34,000 ft, 28 nm east, 7:47 pm EDT (23:47 UTC): no turbulence. 50 nm along the route, 28 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
OMN UA /OV OMN/TM 2347/FL340/TP A321/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through OMN
- Where
- over OMN
- Time
- 23:47 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- none
- E170 at 32,000 ft, 47 nm east, 9:02 pm EDT (01:02 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 70 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
OMN UA /OV OMN020030/TM 0102/FL320/TP E170/TB LGT CHOP 320
- Report
- a routine report filed through OMN
- Where
- 30 nm north (020°) of OMN
- Time
- 01:02 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- light chop at 32,000 ft
- B752 descending, 40 nm west, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 348 nm along the route, 40 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ATL
- Time
- 23:03 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- final runway 26R atl
- B739 descending, 40 nm west, 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 348 nm along the route, 40 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ATL
- Time
- 22:38 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,200 ft
- Remarks
- final runway 28 atl
- C55B at 3,000 ft, 11 nm west, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 358 nm along the route, 11 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
- Report
- a routine report filed through LZU
- Where
- wind from 070° at 10 knots
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C55B
- Sky
- BASE030
- B712 at 3,000 ft, 46 nm west, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 437 nm along the route, 46 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of CHA
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- SCT030-TOP032 C
- CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 45 nm west, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 437 nm along the route, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- wind from 090° at 5 knots
- Time
- 22:51 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
9 more routine reports are on the map.
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (MLB, JAX, SAV, ATL, TYS, LOU, IND, JOT). 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 | 310° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 105 kt | 8 h 20 min | 4:43 am CDT (09:43 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 14 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 45 min | 5:08 am CDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 11 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 45 min | 5:08 am CDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 25 kt | +22 kt | 8 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 56 min | 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | +24 kt | 4 °C | 96 kt | 9 h 07 min | 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | +22 kt | 0 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 56 min | 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 26 kt | +20 kt | -4 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 45 min | 5:08 am CDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 26 kt | +18 kt | -7 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 35 min | 4:58 am CDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 26 kt | +19 kt | -18 °C | 101 kt | 8 h 40 min | 5:03 am CDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 28 kt | +17 kt | -34 °C | 103 kt | 8 h 30 min | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 27 kt | +10 kt | -41 °C | 110 kt | 7 h 57 min | 4:20 am CDT (09:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 25 kt | +9 kt | -50 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 53 min | 4:16 am CDT (09:16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | used from 0 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 240/7 | 240/11 17° | 240/13 13° | 250/15 8° | 230/25 -5° | 210/25 -16° | 210/24 -31° | 190/29 -41° | 190/27 -53° |
| JAX | used from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 280/14 | 300/22 16° | 260/27 15° | 260/26 9° | 240/41 -6° | 230/38 -16° | 220/44 -32° | 200/49 -41° | 200/52 -53° |
| SAV | used from 199 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 260/18 | 290/26 13° | 270/33 12° | 260/40 9° | 240/47 -5° | 230/53 -16° | 220/61 -31° | 210/64 -41° | 210/64 -52° |
| ATL | used from 249 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 300/23 | 320/26 14° | 320/34 10° | 320/41 5° | 290/32 -6° | 290/31 -18° | 280/28 -33° | 260/32 -41° | 250/28 -50° |
| TYS | used from 398 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| LOU | used from 547 nm out; 56 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° |
| IND | used from 696 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| JOT | used from 795 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCO Orlando, FL | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 96 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
| SFB Orlando, FL | 20 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 54 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| VQQ Jacksonville, FL | 109 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 79 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| EZM Eastman, GA | 249 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 303 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 348 nm out, 18 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet | from the west (260°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 812 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 358 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| MNV Madisonville, TN | 457 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 1,031 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| AAS Campbellsville, KY | 577 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 921 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 626 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 775 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 845 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 596 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:16 am CDT (09:16 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for MCO, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 11 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 109 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at MCO 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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: Orlando International, Chicago O'Hare International.
