Chicago O'Hare International to Lovell Field ORD → CHA
436 nautical miles (501 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 162°, about 165° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; CHA is VFR, 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: 3,481 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). Over the last 287 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 ORD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 6 nm east, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 30 nm along the route, 6 nm east 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
- A21N at 17,000 ft, 18 nm northeast, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 198 nm along the route, 18 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 45 nm south (183°) of IND
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- clear
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- clear since departing KIND southbound
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 8:09 pm CDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 257 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 34 nm west, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 307 nm along the route, 34 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
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 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, LOU, BNA, 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 | 300° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 3 h 18 min | 2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 3 h 11 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −18 kt | 13 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 10 min | 2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 9 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 08 min | 2:33 am EDT (06:33 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 5 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 11 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 1 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 10 min | 2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -2 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 07 min | 2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 06 min | 2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 24 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 06 min | 2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 30 kt | −29 kt | -19 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 56 min | 2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 46 kt | −44 kt | -34 °C | 164 kt | 2 h 40 min | 2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 58 kt | −52 kt | -42 °C | 172 kt | 2 h 32 min | 1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 50 kt | −47 kt | -50 °C | 167 kt | 2 h 37 min | 2:02 am EDT (06:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 20 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 99 nm out; 41 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° |
| LOU | used from 198 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| BNA | used from 297 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| TYS | used from 396 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD Chicago, IL | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC) |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 20 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| RZL Rensselaer, IN | 69 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 698 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 99 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 149 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 589 ft | 03:00 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 178 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 200 ft | 845 ft | 03:17 UTC |
| FRH French Lick, IN | 218 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 792 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| EKX Elizabethtown, KY | 277 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 300 ft | 775 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| GLW Glasgow, KY | 307 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 716 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| SRB Sparta, TN | 376 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,025 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,025 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CHA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CHA
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ORD, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CHA is before sunrise there (7:44 am EDT (11:44 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: Chicago O'Hare International, Lovell Field.