Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field to Southwest Florida International MKC → RSW
993 nautical miles (1,143 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 136°, about 135° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 31-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC). Right now MKC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23; RSW is low 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: 2 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 99 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 MKC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 8 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SGF, CGI, MEM, BHM, MGM, TLH, PIE). 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 | 270° at 13 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 7 h 45 min | 10:47 am EDT (14:47 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 7 h 35 min | 10:37 am EDT (14:37 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | −13 kt | 15 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 28 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −14 kt | 12 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:27 am EDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 12 kt | −12 kt | 8 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 31 min | 10:33 am EDT (14:33 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 31 min | 10:33 am EDT (14:33 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −13 kt | -1 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 28 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | −14 kt | -5 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:27 am EDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 18 kt | −14 kt | -6 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:27 am EDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 23 kt | −19 kt | -17 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 09 min | 10:11 am EDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 31 kt | −29 kt | -32 °C | 149 kt | 6 h 40 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 34 kt | −31 kt | -41 °C | 151 kt | 6 h 35 min | 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 32 kt | −30 kt | -51 °C | 150 kt | 6 h 37 min | 9:39 am EDT (13:39 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; 25 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° |
| SGF | used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| CGI | used from 199 nm out; 99 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| MEM | used from 248 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| BHM | used from 447 nm out; 66 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° |
| MGM | used from 497 nm out; 56 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° |
| TLH | used from 646 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
| PIE | used from 794 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC Kansas City, MO | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC) |
| GLY Clinton, MO | 60 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 822 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| UNO West Plains, MO | 189 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,228 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| JBR Jonesboro, AR | 268 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 262 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| OLV Olive Branch, MS | 338 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 401 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 407 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 346 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SEM Selma, AL | 546 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37 | 3,300 ft | 166 ft | 01:30 UTC | |
| TOI Troy, AL | 606 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| AAF Apalachicola, FL | 735 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 19 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SRQ Sarasota/Bradenton, FL | 924 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RSW Fort Myers, FL | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 29 ft | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,228 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC)
Wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RSW
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 200 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MKC, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 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 Downtown/Wheeler Field, Southwest Florida International.