Smyrna Airport to Brookings Regional MQY → BKX
686 nautical miles (789 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 320°, about 322° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 4:43 pm CDT (21:43 UTC). Right now MQY is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; BKX is IFR, wind from the east (080°) at 5 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 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 2W: 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 route from 387 to 497 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 79 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 MQY.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ2 at 2,000 ft, 9 nm south, 10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zkcfdc xj. 328 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
UIN UA /OV KUIN/TM 1521/FL020/TP CRJ2/TB NEG/RM /ZKCFDC XJ
- Report
- a routine report filed through UIN
- Where
- over KUIN
- Time
- 15:21 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zkcfdc xj
- BE36 at 6,000 ft, 44 nm northeast, 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC): no turbulence. 586 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FRM UA /OV FRM/TM 1312/FL060/TP BE36/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FRM
- Where
- over FRM
- Time
- 13:12 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Turbulence
- none
- UAL1095 at 36,000 ft, 28 nm southwest, 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): no turbulence, -41 °C, wind 253° at 52 knots. 656 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1095 4338N 09646W 1300 F360 MS41 253/052KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (BNA, EVV, STL, SPI, BRL, DSM, MCW, FSD). 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 | 240° at 21 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 5 h 55 min | 4:46 pm CDT (21:46 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +3 kt | 16 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 52 min | 4:43 pm CDT (21:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +5 kt | 13 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 58 min | 4:49 pm CDT (21:49 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +10 kt | 9 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 14 min | 5:05 pm CDT (22:05 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | +14 kt | 5 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 28 min | 5:19 pm CDT (22:19 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | +15 kt | 0 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 32 min | 5:23 pm CDT (22:23 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 29 kt | +16 kt | -4 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 36 min | 5:27 pm CDT (22:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 30 kt | +17 kt | -7 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 40 min | 5:31 pm CDT (22:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 37 kt | +22 kt | -20 °C | 98 kt | 7 h | 5:51 pm CDT (22:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 52 kt | +43 kt | -32 °C | 77 kt | 8 h 55 min | 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 62 kt | +52 kt | -38 °C | 68 kt | 10 h 05 min | 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 56 kt | +49 kt | -47 °C | 71 kt | 9 h 40 min | 8:31 pm CDT (01:31 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNA | used from 0 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 270/14 | 270/10 14° | 280/19 11° | 280/26 6° | 280/25 -6° | 280/31 -18° | 300/44 -32° | 300/53 -40° | 310/51 -49° |
| EVV | used from 99 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 270/15 | 250/15 14° | 260/24 11° | 270/28 6° | 280/30 -7° | 280/34 -18° | 290/48 -33° | 290/59 -38° | 300/56 -48° |
| STL | used from 199 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 240/25 | 240/21 15° | 260/21 12° | 270/21 7° | 280/25 -7° | 280/39 -19° | 290/65 -31° | 290/70 -38° | 290/59 -48° |
| SPI | used from 248 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/21 15° | 260/11 12° | 280/19 6° | 270/23 -8° | 280/34 -20° | 290/55 -33° | 290/62 -37° | 290/55 -47° |
| BRL | used from 298 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 240/28 | 240/25 18° | 250/26 12° | 260/29 5° | 260/24 -8° | 270/36 -20° | 280/57 -33° | 290/65 -37° | 290/54 -46° |
| DSM | used from 397 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/34 | 230/32 20° | 220/33 12° | 240/35 5° | 250/39 -7° | 250/43 -21° | 280/61 -31° | 280/73 -37° | 280/67 -47° |
| MCW | used from 546 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 220/19 | 210/29 20° | 230/35 13° | 250/35 5° | 250/33 -9° | 260/44 -21° | 260/46 -33° | 270/58 -37° | 270/59 -46° |
| FSD | used from 596 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 260/9 | 210/16 18° | 220/27 14° | 230/28 6° | 240/39 -9° | 240/48 -22° | 260/52 -32° | 260/61 -38° | 260/60 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MQY Smyrna, TN | departure | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 9:56 am CDT (14:56 UTC) |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 20 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 501 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| HVC Hopkinsville, KY | 70 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 563 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| MWA Marion, IL | 159 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 471 ft | 15:45 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 238 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 298 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 709 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| EOK Keokuk, IA | 358 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 671 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 467 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 957 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| AMW Ames, IA | 487 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 955 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| SPW Spencer, IA | 586 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,338 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| PQN Pipestone, MN | 656 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,736 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| BKX Brookings, SD | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the east (080°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 1,647 ft | 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,736 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BKX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:43 pm CDT (21:43 UTC)
BKX has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for MQY, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
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 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at MQY 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at BKX 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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: Smyrna Airport, Brookings Regional.