Plan a flight · Sun 8:34 pm CDT (01:34 UTC)

Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Willow Run Airport MSN → YIP

262 nautical miles (301 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 100°, about 103° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:03 pm EDT (03:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; YIP is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 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: 7 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 last 19 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

A320 at 33,000 ft, 14 nm south, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 194 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B737 at 32,000 ft, 4 nm northwest, 5:42 pm CDT (22:42 UTC): light clear-air turbulence. 19 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest 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, 7 nm north, 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. 48 nm along the route, 7 nm north 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
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 40 nm south, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 116 nm along the route, 40 nm south 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
B38M at 31,000 ft, 21 nm south, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 175 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 14 nm south, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 184 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over BTL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 3,100 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
tops 3,100 ft
E170 at 21,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 213 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAN
Where
20 nm south (180°) of LAN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
lght chop
Remarks
during the climb zob
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 48 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 213 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
SR22 at 1,300 ft, 25 nm north, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
3 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
bases 1,900 ft overcast
CRJ7 descending, 8 nm east, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
final 3R
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 2,800 ft
C550 at 2,300 ft, 26 nm north, 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the destination end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
4W
Time
00:46 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C550
Remarks
fis 4 mile final
A21N descending, 8 nm east, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
A320 climbing, 41 nm south, 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
00:14 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A320
Sky
B025 overcast T040
CRJ9 descending, 8 nm east, 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
final runway 4L

5 more routine reports are on the map.

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 3 forecast points nearest it (GRB, MKG, CLE). 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 8 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	2 h 04 min	11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 10 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	2 h 02 min	11:36 pm EDT (03:36 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−13 kt	12 °C	133 kt	1 h 58 min	11:32 pm EDT (03:32 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−17 kt	8 °C	137 kt	1 h 55 min	11:29 pm EDT (03:29 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	−16 kt	4 °C	136 kt	1 h 56 min	11:30 pm EDT (03:30 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−17 kt	0 °C	137 kt	1 h 55 min	11:29 pm EDT (03:29 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	−18 kt	-5 °C	138 kt	1 h 54 min	11:28 pm EDT (03:28 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	−20 kt	-9 °C	140 kt	1 h 52 min	11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 22 kt	−20 kt	-10 °C	140 kt	1 h 52 min	11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 34 kt	−25 kt	-22 °C	145 kt	1 h 48 min	11:22 pm EDT (03:22 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 49 kt	−35 kt	-38 °C	155 kt	1 h 41 min	11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 44 kt	−36 kt	-47 °C	156 kt	1 h 41 min	11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 59 kt	−57 kt	-49 °C	177 kt	1 h 29 min	11:03 pm EDT (03:03 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
GRB	used from 0 nm out; 90 nm from the line	240/24	260/18 16°	270/20 11°	290/14 4°	280/24 -9°	300/34 -21°	310/51 -38°	310/54 -48°	300/71 -51°
MKG	used from 48 nm out; 66 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
CLE	used from 242 nm out; 99 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -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)
RYV Watertown, WI	29 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	832 ft	01:15 UTC
UES Waukesha, WI	48 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	911 ft	00:45 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	165 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	793 ft	00:53 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	184 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	00:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	223 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	1,000 ft	00:56 UTC
YIP Detroit, MI	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	715 ft	8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At YIP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:03 pm EDT (03:03 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for YIP

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at YIP is after sunset there (6:59 pm EDT (22:59 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, 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, Willow Run Airport.