General Mitchell International to Charlotte/Douglas International MKE → CLT
566 nautical miles (651 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 143°, about 147° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:29 am EDT (14:29 UTC). Right now MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots; CLT is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 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: 1,891 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). Over the route from 149 to 496 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 377 to 506 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 466 to 536 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 476 to 536 nm out.
- 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 last 50 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 MKE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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, JOT, FWA, CVG, CRW, TRI, GSP). 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 | 290° at 19 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 4 h 12 min | 11:20 am EDT (15:20 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 04 min | 11:12 am EDT (15:12 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 11 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 03 min | 11:11 am EDT (15:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 8 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 01 min | 11:09 am EDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 5 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 01 min | 11:09 am EDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 2 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 57 min | 11:05 am EDT (15:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -2 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 54 min | 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 28 kt | −28 kt | -6 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 49 min | 10:57 am EDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -7 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 49 min | 10:57 am EDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 33 kt | −32 kt | -19 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 43 min | 10:51 am EDT (14:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -34 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 35 min | 10:43 am EDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 50 kt | −49 kt | -43 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 21 min | 10:29 am EDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 51 kt | −49 kt | -51 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 21 min | 10:29 am EDT (14:29 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 67 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| JOT | used from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| FWA | used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| CVG | used from 198 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| CRW | used from 347 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| TRI | used from 397 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| GSP | used from 546 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
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: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 24,000 ft | 728 ft | 5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC) |
| ENW Kenosha, WI | 20 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 99 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | none | 798 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 159 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| MIE Muncie, IN | 198 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 937 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| LUK Cincinnati, OH | 278 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 300 ft | 481 ft | 11:05 UTC |
| FGX Flemingsburg, KY | 327 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 913 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 347 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 11:02 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 437 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 2,684 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 466 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 1,518 ft | 11:00 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 526 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | destination | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 6:52 am EDT (10:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:29 am EDT (14:29 UTC)
Wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CLT
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MKE, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 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 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, 278 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 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, Charlotte/Douglas International.