Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Bradley International MSP → BDL
910 nautical miles (1,048 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 094°, about 094° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; BDL is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 8 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: 1,709 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 59 to 208 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). Over the last 554 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 218 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 713 to 861 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 871 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 0 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
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 40 nm southwest, 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 16,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb
- GA6C descending, 47 nm south, 11:32 pm CDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 851 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
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 9 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, GRB, TVC, CLE, BUF, SYR, ALB, BDL). 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 16 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 6 h 44 min | 8:28 am EDT (12:28 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 6 h 47 min | 8:31 am EDT (12:31 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | −11 kt | 10 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 57 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | −10 kt | 7 °C | 130 kt | 7 h | 8:44 am EDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 11 kt | −11 kt | 4 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 57 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −14 kt | 0 °C | 134 kt | 6 h 47 min | 8:31 am EDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -5 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 36 min | 8:20 am EDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −21 kt | -9 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 27 min | 8:11 am EDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 23 kt | −22 kt | -10 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 25 min | 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -22 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 11 min | 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -36 °C | 155 kt | 5 h 52 min | 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 41 kt | −40 kt | -44 °C | 160 kt | 5 h 41 min | 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 55 kt | −54 kt | -52 °C | 174 kt | 5 h 14 min | 6:58 am EDT (10:58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| LSE | used from 49 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| GRB | used from 148 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| TVC | used from 297 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 260/31 | 280/22 15° | 290/18 10° | 270/13 2° | 290/25 -10° | 300/35 -21° | 310/52 -37° | 320/59 -47° | 300/84 -54° |
| CLE | used from 445 nm out; 147 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| BUF | used from 495 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| SYR | used from 693 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| ALB | used from 792 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| BDL | used from 891 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
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 17,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 841 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| EAU Eau Claire, WI | 69 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 913 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| CWA Mosinee, WI | 148 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 24,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,277 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 218 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 695 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CAD Cadillac, MI | 336 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,306 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| BAX Bad Axe, MI | 445 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 763 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| IAG Niagara Falls, NY | 623 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.25 mi | none | 592 ft | 05:36 UTC |
| ROC Rochester, NY | 683 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 558 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 742 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 13,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | none | 1,099 ft | 05:29 UTC |
| GBR Great Barrington, MA | 871 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 739 ft | ||||
| BDL Windsor Locks, CT | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 9 mi | 600 ft | 173 ft | 1:38 am EDT (05:38 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,306 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BDL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC)
Wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BDL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 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 BDL 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm EDT (22:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BDL is before sunrise there (6:59 am EDT (10:59 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
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, Bradley International.