Chicago Midway International to Oakland County International MDW → PTK
200 nautical miles (230 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 077° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 38-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:49 pm EDT (02:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; PTK is 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: 3 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 30 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 MDW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 33,000 ft, 3 nm southeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 120 nm along the route, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JXN
- Where
- 30 nm west (280°) of JXN
- Time
- 00:36 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 40 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
- B38M at 31,000 ft, 2 nm east, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 100 nm along the route, 2 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
- Report
- a routine report filed through AZO
- Where
- over AZO
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
- F2TH at 3,100 ft, 4 nm southwest, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 120 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
- Report
- a routine report filed through AZO
- Where
- over BTL
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- F2TH
- Remarks
- tops 3,100 ft
- UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 130 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- E170 at 21,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 150 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAN
- Where
- 20 nm south (180°) of LAN
- Time
- 01:07 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- lght chop
- Remarks
- during the climb zob
- E55P descending, 24 nm south, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 190 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
- Report
- a routine report filed through YIP
- Where
- over KYIP
- Time
- 23:00 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Sky
- B015
- SR22 at 1,300 ft, 3 nm west, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 3 nm west (270°) of PTK
- Time
- 01:25 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Sky
- bases 1,900 ft overcast
- CRJ7 descending, 27 nm south, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the destination end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- final 3R
- Time
- 01:01 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 2,800 ft
- C550 at 2,300 ft, 0 nm south, 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 4W
- Time
- 00:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,300 ft
- Aircraft
- C550
- Remarks
- fis 4 mile final
- A21N descending, 27 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the destination end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 00:22 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft
- CRJ9 descending, 27 nm south, 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. At the destination end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 00:08 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft
- Remarks
- final runway 4L
- GLF5 at 9,000 ft, 0 nm south, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,000 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV PTK 7E/TM 2313/FL090/TP GLF5/SK OVC015-TOP040
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- ptk 7E
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,000 ft
2 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 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 2 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG). 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 | 260° at 6 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 1 h 35 min | 11:08 pm EDT (03:08 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 9 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 1 h 35 min | 11:08 pm EDT (03:08 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | −8 kt | 12 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 34 min | 11:07 pm EDT (03:07 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 8 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 32 min | 11:05 pm EDT (03:05 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −9 kt | 4 °C | 129 kt | 1 h 33 min | 11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −10 kt | 0 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 32 min | 11:05 pm EDT (03:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −11 kt | -5 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 32 min | 11:05 pm EDT (03:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −12 kt | -9 °C | 132 kt | 1 h 31 min | 11:04 pm EDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 21 kt | −13 kt | -10 °C | 133 kt | 1 h 30 min | 11:03 pm EDT (03:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 36 kt | −9 kt | -22 °C | 129 kt | 1 h 33 min | 11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 50 kt | −15 kt | -38 °C | 135 kt | 1 h 29 min | 11:02 pm EDT (03:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 46 kt | −19 kt | -46 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 26 min | 10:59 pm EDT (02:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 61 kt | −38 kt | -49 °C | 158 kt | 1 h 16 min | 10:49 pm EDT (02:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 49 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° |
| MKG | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDW Chicago, IL | departure | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| MGC Michigan City, IN | 40 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 654 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 60 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 100 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| JXN Jackson, MI | 150 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,000 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 500 ft | 980 ft | 9:14 pm EDT (01:14 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PTK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:49 pm EDT (02:49 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for PTK
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MDW, the departure
- 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
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at PTK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PTK is after sunset there (6:58 pm EDT (22:58 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: Chicago Midway International, Oakland County International.