Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Athens/Ben Epps Airport MSP → AHN
800 nautical miles (920 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 142°, about 142° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots; AHN is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 2 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 240 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the route from 520 to 730 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 660 to 750 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 720 to 790 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 MSP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 320 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast 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
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 10 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, DBQ, JOT, SPI, IND, EVV, LOU, TYS, ATL). 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 | 280° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 6 h 01 min | 10:44 am EDT (14:44 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 5 h 56 min | 10:39 am EDT (14:39 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 13 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 58 min | 10:41 am EDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 9 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 01 min | 10:44 am EDT (14:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −15 kt | 6 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 56 min | 10:39 am EDT (14:39 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −17 kt | 2 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 50 min | 10:33 am EDT (14:33 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −19 kt | -2 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 45 min | 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 24 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 40 min | 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 25 kt | −22 kt | -7 °C | 142 kt | 5 h 38 min | 10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 31 kt | −27 kt | -20 °C | 147 kt | 5 h 27 min | 10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 35 kt | −29 kt | -34 °C | 149 kt | 5 h 22 min | 10:05 am EDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 47 kt | −42 kt | -42 °C | 162 kt | 4 h 56 min | 9:39 am EDT (13:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 51 kt | −47 kt | -50 °C | 167 kt | 4 h 47 min | 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| LSE | used from 50 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| DBQ | used from 150 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| JOT | used from 250 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| SPI | used from 300 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| IND | used from 400 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| EVV | used from 450 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| LOU | used from 500 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| TYS | used from 600 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| ATL | used from 750 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 841 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| RST Rochester, MN | 70 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| PDC Prairie du Chien, WI | 140 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 17:15 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 180 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SQI Sterling/Rockfalls, IL | 240 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 647 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 360 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 420 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TEL Tell City, IN | 510 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | no report just now | 659 ft | ||||
| TZV Tompkinsville, KY | 600 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,036 ft | ||||
| MMI Athens, TN | 690 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 874 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| JCA Jefferson, GA | 780 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 950 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AHN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for AHN
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at AHN 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 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: Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport, Athens/Ben Epps Airport.