General Mitchell International to Laurence G Hanscom Field MKE → BED
732 nautical miles (842 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 087°, about 091° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC). Right now MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots; BED is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 9 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: 23 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). Near the route, 99 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the last 584 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 485 to 663 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 158 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing from 12,000 ft to 24,000 ft. Near the route, 663 nm along 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 MKE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 descending, 27 nm north, 1:21 am CDT (06:21 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MHT UA /OV KMHT/TM 0621/FLDURD/TP B763/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through MHT
- Where
- over KMHT
- Time
- 06:21 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- B763 descending, 27 nm north, 12:55 am CDT (05:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MHT UA /OV RWY 35/TM 0555/FLDURD/TP B763/SK 004-005 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through MHT
- Where
- runway 35
- Time
- 05:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- from 400 ft to 500 ft ft
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 7 forecast points nearest it (MKG, CLE, BUF, SYR, ALB, BDL, BOS). 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 | 280° at 6 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 5 h 49 min | 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 10 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 5 h 49 min | 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 10 kt | −6 kt | 10 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 49 min | 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 10 kt | −7 kt | 6 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 46 min | 9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 11 kt | −9 kt | 3 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 40 min | 9:47 am EDT (13:47 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 33 min | 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −16 kt | -5 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 23 min | 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -9 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 14 min | 9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -10 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 11 min | 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -21 °C | 146 kt | 5 h 01 min | 9:08 am EDT (13:08 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 34 kt | −31 kt | -36 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 51 min | 8:58 am EDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 44 kt | −41 kt | -43 °C | 161 kt | 4 h 33 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 49 kt | −46 kt | -51 °C | 166 kt | 4 h 25 min | 8:32 am EDT (12:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| CLE | used from 198 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| BUF | used from 297 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| SYR | used from 445 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| ALB | used from 544 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| BDL | used from 643 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| BOS | used from 693 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 110/20 | 200/26 12° | 280/24 8° | 260/29 3° | 250/47 -10° | 230/59 -19° | 230/74 -33° | 240/95 -41° | 240/96 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 728 ft | 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC) |
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 69 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 109 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 793 ft | 08:01 UTC |
| FNT Flint, MI | 178 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 8 mi | 300 ft | 782 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CYZR Sarnia, | 247 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 1,300 ft | 594 ft | 07:00 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 297 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| BUF Buffalo, NY | 406 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,200 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 726 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| ROC Rochester, NY | 445 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 3,900 ft | 558 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SYR Syracuse, NY | 514 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 421 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| ALB Albany, NY | 623 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 284 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| ORH Worcester, MA | 712 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,009 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| BED Bedford, MA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 6 mi | 300 ft | 132 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,009 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BED when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC)
Wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BED
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
The forecast for MKE, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8802 Foxborough, MA, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZBW
Daylight
Sunset at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at BED 6:08 pm EDT (22:08 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 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: General Mitchell International, Laurence G Hanscom Field.