Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) to Chicago O'Hare International MGM → ORD
585 nautical miles (674 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 353°, about 354° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 3:15 am CDT (08:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MGM is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) 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: 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 MGM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 35 nm southeast, 9:41 pm CDT (02:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOI UA /OV MGM157029 /TM 0241 /FL280 /TP CRJ7 /TB MOD /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOI
- Where
- 29 nm southeast (157°) of MGM
- Time
- 02:41 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 21 nm east, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 278 nm along the route, 21 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 11 nm east, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 556 nm along the route, 11 nm east 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, 41 nm east, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 41 nm east 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
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (MGM, BHM, HSV, BNA, EVV, 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 | 300° at 17 kt | +11 kt | 109 kt | 5 h 22 min | 3:15 am CDT (08:15 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 15 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 31 min | 3:24 am CDT (08:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 38 min | 3:31 am CDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 8 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 34 min | 3:27 am CDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 4 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 31 min | 3:24 am CDT (08:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 0 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 34 min | 3:27 am CDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +16 kt | -4 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 38 min | 3:31 am CDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 23 kt | +16 kt | -7 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 38 min | 3:31 am CDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -18 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 06 min | 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 44 kt | +38 kt | -33 °C | 82 kt | 7 h 08 min | 5:01 am CDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 56 kt | +46 kt | -42 °C | 74 kt | 7 h 54 min | 5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 50 kt | +43 kt | -50 °C | 77 kt | 7 h 36 min | 5:29 am CDT (10:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| BHM | used from 50 nm out; 9 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| HSV | used from 99 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BNA | used from 198 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| EVV | used from 298 nm out; 30 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 397 nm out; 60 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° |
| JOT | used from 496 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Montgomery, AL | departure | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 221 ft | 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC) |
| SCD Sylacauga, AL | 50 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 568 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 79 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 139 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | 228 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 599 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 238 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 501 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 327 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 407 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| DCY Washington, IN | 387 nm out, 10 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 472 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 427 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| DNV Danville, IL | 476 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | no report just now | 696 ft | ||||
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 566 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 696 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, 3:15 am CDT (08:15 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 MGM, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 14 nm from the route, 248 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at MGM 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 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: Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field), Chicago O'Hare International.