Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Waco Regional MSN → ACT
787 nautical miles (906 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 211°, about 214° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots; ACT is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 14 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 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 route from 70 to 518 nm out.
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 MSN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 130 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, BRL, COU, SGF, FSM, DAL). 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 | 230° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 95 kt | 8 h 17 min | 8:28 am CDT (13:28 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +21 kt | 15 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 57 min | 8:08 am CDT (13:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 13 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 21 min | 7:32 am CDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +11 kt | 9 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 13 min | 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +11 kt | 5 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 13 min | 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 1 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 21 min | 7:32 am CDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +14 kt | -3 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 25 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 20 kt | +15 kt | -6 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 30 min | 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 25 kt | +17 kt | -17 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 38 min | 7:49 am CDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 37 kt | +18 kt | -31 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 43 min | 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 43 kt | +15 kt | -40 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 30 min | 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 48 kt | +9 kt | -51 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 05 min | 7:16 am CDT (12:16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| BRL | used from 100 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| COU | used from 249 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| SGF | used from 349 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| FSM | used from 448 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| DAL | used from 598 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN Madison, WI | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| SFY Savanna, IL | 70 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 616 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 110 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| EOK Keokuk, IA | 189 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 671 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 289 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| RAW Warsaw, MO | 339 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 936 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | 468 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FYV Fayetteville, AR | 478 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,252 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| HHW Hugo, OK | 618 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 572 ft | 04:50 UTC |
| HQZ Mesquite, TX | 707 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 446 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| RBD Dallas, TX | 717 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ACT Waco, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 516 ft | 11:51 pm CDT (04:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,288 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ACT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet VFR
At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,700 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ACT
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,700 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 17,000 feet
The forecast for MSN, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, 269 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 14 nm from the route, 707 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 23 nm from the route, 727 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at ACT 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ACT is before sunrise there (7:29 am CDT (12:29 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, Waco Regional.