Quad Cities International to Pensacola International MLI → PNS
678 nautical miles (781 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 165°, about 164° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC). Right now MLI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots; PNS is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 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: 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 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 MLI.
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (BRL, SPI, STL, CGI, MEM, HSV, BHM, MGM, MOB). 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 18 kt | −4 kt | 124 kt | 5 h 28 min | 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | −3 kt | 123 kt | 5 h 31 min | 9:14 am CDT (14:14 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 12 kt | −4 kt | 13 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 28 min | 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | −5 kt | 10 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 25 min | 9:08 am CDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | −4 kt | 6 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 28 min | 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −6 kt | 2 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 23 min | 9:06 am CDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −9 kt | -1 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 15 min | 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −12 kt | -5 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 08 min | 8:51 am CDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 21 kt | −13 kt | -6 °C | 133 kt | 5 h 06 min | 8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 24 kt | −13 kt | -18 °C | 133 kt | 5 h 06 min | 8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 38 kt | −25 kt | -32 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 41 min | 8:24 am CDT (13:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 46 kt | −34 kt | -40 °C | 154 kt | 4 h 24 min | 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 44 kt | −37 kt | -51 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 19 min | 8:02 am CDT (13:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRL | used from 0 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| SPI | used from 50 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 150 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| CGI | used from 199 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| MEM | used from 349 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| HSV | used from 399 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| BHM | used from 449 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| MGM | used from 549 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 320/19 | 330/16 17° | 340/21 11° | 330/11 5° | 330/27 -6° | 330/21 -17° | 330/37 -32° | 340/44 -40° | 360/30 -52° |
| MOB | used from 598 nm out; 58 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | 020/8 11° | L/V 6° | 330/12 -5° | 330/23 -17° | 330/30 -32° | 350/39 -41° | 340/40 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLI Moline, IL | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC) |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 50 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 100 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| BLV Belleville, IL | 180 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 459 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL | 229 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 411 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 279 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 359 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HAB Hamilton, AL | 459 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 436 ft | ||||
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | 509 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.75 mi | none | 169 ft | 08:39 UTC |
| DYA Demopolis, AL | 549 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 500 ft | 111 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MVC Monroeville, AL | 618 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | no report just now | 419 ft | ||||
| PNS Pensacola, FL | destination | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 120 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 660 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PNS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC)
Wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PNS
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MLI, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, 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 MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC), at PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 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: Quad Cities International, Pensacola International.