Northwest Alabama Regional to Chicago O'Hare International MSL → ORD
434 nautical miles (500 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 358°, about 001° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSL is VFR, wind calm; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 49 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 MSL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BE40 at 29,000 ft, 29 nm west, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. At the departure end, 29 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUP
- Where
- 41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
- Time
- 23:22 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE40
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
- Remarks
- zme
- B38M at 25,000 ft, 36 nm west, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 79 nm along the route, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
- Report
- a routine report filed through MKL
- Where
- 35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
- Time
- 00:12 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- ZME26
- B77W at 31,000 ft, 26 nm east, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 99 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BNA
- Where
- 30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B77W
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
- A319 at 32,000 ft, 33 nm east, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 99 nm along the route, 33 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
- Report
- a routine report filed through BNA
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
- Time
- 22:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZME62
- B738 at 34,000 ft, 13 nm east, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 109 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through CKV
- Where
- over CKV
- Time
- 23:41 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
- B38M at 23,700 ft, 19 nm east, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 257 nm along the route, 19 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 30 nm south (190°) of TTH
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 14 nm east, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 405 nm along the route, 14 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 41 nm east, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 41 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (HSV, BNA, EVV, IND, JOT). 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 | 300° at 12 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 3 h 50 min | 12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +21 kt | 99 kt | 4 h 23 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +25 kt | 13 °C | 95 kt | 4 h 34 min | 1:11 am CDT (06:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | +27 kt | 9 °C | 93 kt | 4 h 40 min | 1:17 am CDT (06:17 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 32 kt | +29 kt | 5 °C | 91 kt | 4 h 46 min | 1:23 am CDT (06:23 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | +28 kt | 1 °C | 92 kt | 4 h 43 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | +27 kt | -4 °C | 93 kt | 4 h 40 min | 1:17 am CDT (06:17 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | +26 kt | -8 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 37 min | 1:14 am CDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 30 kt | +26 kt | -9 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 37 min | 1:14 am CDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 36 kt | +33 kt | -20 °C | 87 kt | 4 h 59 min | 1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 50 kt | +43 kt | -36 °C | 77 kt | 5 h 38 min | 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 52 kt | +43 kt | -42 °C | 77 kt | 5 h 38 min | 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 45 kt | +37 kt | -48 °C | 83 kt | 5 h 14 min | 1:51 am CDT (06:51 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSV | used from 0 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 290/15 | 330/34 16° | 330/38 11° | 330/40 5° | 320/36 -7° | 320/31 -18° | 320/44 -34° | 330/53 -41° | 330/34 -48° |
| BNA | used from 49 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| EVV | used from 148 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| IND | used from 247 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| JOT | used from 346 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSL Muscle Shoals, AL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 550 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| GHM Centerville, TN | 69 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | no report just now | 765 ft | ||||
| HVC Hopkinsville, KY | 128 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 563 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| TWT Sturgis, KY | 168 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 372 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 197 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 421 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| AJG Mount Carmel, IL | 227 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: sky obscured at 700 feet Weather: haze | calm | 1.5 mi | 700 ft | 429 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 286 nm out, 23 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 316 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| IKK Kankakee, IL | 375 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 629 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 415 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 765 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for MSL, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 MSL 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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: Northwest Alabama Regional, Chicago O'Hare International.