Plan a flight · Sun 8:30 pm CDT (01:30 UTC)

Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to MC Ghee Tyson Airport MSN → TYS

505 nautical miles (581 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 149°, about 152° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; TYS is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 386 to 475 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 69 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

B737 at 32,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 5:42 pm CDT (22:42 UTC): light clear-air turbulence. At the departure end, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE270030/TM 2242/FL320/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BAE
Time
22:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light clear-air turbulence
E295 at 37,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. 30 nm along the route, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop
B39M at 35,000 ft, 18 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 129 nm along the route, 18 nm northeast 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
E170 at 23,000 ft, 11 nm east, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 218 nm along the route, 11 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light
B38M at 23,700 ft, 50 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 257 nm along the route, 50 nm southwest 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
B712 at 600 ft, 37 nm northeast, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 376 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
CRJ9 descending, 37 nm northeast, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 376 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 45 nm east, 5:46 pm CDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. At the destination end, 45 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
40 nm east (090°) of VXV
Time
22:46 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-42

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 (DBQ, JOT, IND, LOU, TYS). 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	290° at 11 kt	−8 kt		128 kt	3 h 57 min	1:27 am EDT (05:27 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 16 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	3 h 43 min	1:13 am EDT (05:13 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	−20 kt	12 °C	140 kt	3 h 36 min	1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	−23 kt	8 °C	143 kt	3 h 32 min	1:02 am EDT (05:02 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 25 kt	−25 kt	5 °C	145 kt	3 h 29 min	12:59 am EDT (04:59 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	−26 kt	1 °C	146 kt	3 h 28 min	12:58 am EDT (04:58 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-4 °C	146 kt	3 h 28 min	12:58 am EDT (04:58 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-8 °C	146 kt	3 h 28 min	12:58 am EDT (04:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-9 °C	146 kt	3 h 28 min	12:58 am EDT (04:58 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 35 kt	−35 kt	-20 °C	155 kt	3 h 15 min	12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 43 kt	−43 kt	-36 °C	163 kt	3 h 06 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 46 kt	−45 kt	-42 °C	165 kt	3 h 04 min	12:34 am EDT (04:34 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 49 kt	−48 kt	-48 °C	168 kt	3 h	12:30 am EDT (04:30 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
DBQ	used from 0 nm out; 77 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
JOT	used from 49 nm out; 36 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°
IND	used from 198 nm out; 28 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°
LOU	used from 297 nm out; 17 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
TYS	used from 445 nm out; 35 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°

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 (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
JVL Janesville, WI	30 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	807 ft	00:45 UTC
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	89 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	00:52 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	109 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	01:15 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	198 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	00:54 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	247 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	796 ft	00:54 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN	267 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	845 ft	00:53 UTC
LOU Louisville, KY	336 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	545 ft	00:53 UTC
BRY Bardstown, KY	366 nm out, 7 nm west of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	669 ft	23:35 UTC
SME Somerset, KY	425 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation	from the west (270°) at 5 knots, gusting to 10	3 mi	600 ft	927 ft	01:15 UTC
SCX Oneida, TN	455 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	400 ft	1,544 ft	01:15 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	986 ft	9:14 pm EDT (01:14 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,544 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At TYS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for TYS

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at TYS 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TYS is before sunrise there (7:39 am EDT (11:39 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, MC Ghee Tyson Airport.