Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Monroe County MSN → BMG
269 nautical miles (310 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 152°, about 155° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots; BMG is low IFR, wind calm. 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: 5 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), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 60 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 MSN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 140 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- 23 nm north (010°) of RBS
- Time
- 07:05 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 25 nm southwest, 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 160 nm along the route, 25 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, JOT, IND). 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 | 260° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 125 kt | 2 h 09 min | 5:46 am EDT (09:46 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 2 h 04 min | 5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −10 kt | 12 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 04 min | 5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −7 kt | 9 °C | 127 kt | 2 h 07 min | 5:44 am EDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 10 kt | −5 kt | 5 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 09 min | 5:46 am EDT (09:46 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | −7 kt | 1 °C | 127 kt | 2 h 07 min | 5:44 am EDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −10 kt | -2 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 04 min | 5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 21 kt | −13 kt | -6 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 01 min | 5:38 am EDT (09:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 22 kt | −14 kt | -7 °C | 134 kt | 2 h | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 27 kt | −19 kt | -19 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 56 min | 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 31 kt | −26 kt | -34 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 51 min | 5:28 am EDT (09:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 49 kt | −39 kt | -43 °C | 159 kt | 1 h 42 min | 5:19 am EDT (09:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 62 kt | −53 kt | -51 °C | 173 kt | 1 h 33 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 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; 76 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° |
| JOT | used from 50 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| IND | used from 200 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN Madison, WI | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| JVL Janesville, WI | 30 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 807 ft | 07:10 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 60 nm out, 18 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 90 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| IKK Kankakee, IL | 140 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 629 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 200 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | none | 605 ft | 07:26 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 240 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:29 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 100 ft | 845 ft | 3:34 am EDT (07:34 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 886 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BMG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility 4 miles, mist, shallow fog, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet marginal VFR
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for BMG
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 4 miles, mist, shallow fog, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
The forecast for MSN, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 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
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 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 MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at BMG 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:39 pm EDT (23:39 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BMG is before sunrise there (7:52 am EDT (11:52 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, Monroe County.