Chicago O'Hare International to Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport ORD → CHO
491 nautical miles (566 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 115°, about 118° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 32-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; CHO is marginal 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: 2,332 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 route from 167 to 383 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 334 to 482 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 88 nm of the route.
- 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 49 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 ORD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 46 nm northeast, 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 373 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through MPG
- Where
- 30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
- Time
- 00:55 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 403 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 19 nm southwest, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 29 nm along the route, 19 nm southwest 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
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 29 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast 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
- UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 43 nm north, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 138 nm along the route, 43 nm north 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
- E145 at 2,600 ft, 2 nm west, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 138 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over FWA
- Time
- 23:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,600 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- B026
- A321 at 21,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 206 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over ROD
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- none
- E145 climbing, 38 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 206 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- B005 T035
- E545 at 28,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence. 206 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 2315/FL280/TP E545/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over ROD
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Turbulence
- none
- BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 5 nm south, 7:27 pm CDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 256 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over CMH
- Time
- 00:27 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- T037
- C150 climbing, 13 nm southwest, 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 275 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LHQ/TM 2245/FLDURC/TP C150/SK B015 T038
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LHQ
- Time
- 22:45 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- C150
- Sky
- B015 T038
- BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 1 nm southwest, 7:58 pm CDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 334 nm along the route, 1 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PKB
- Where
- over JPU
- Time
- 00:58 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- light
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
- E170 at 500 ft, 0 nm southeast, 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- over CHO
- Time
- 00:01 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
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 4 forecast points nearest it (JOT, FWA, CMH, EKN). 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 | 340° at 11 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 3 h 50 min | 1:11 am EDT (05:11 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 13 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 42 min | 1:03 am EDT (05:03 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 14 kt | −11 kt | 11 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 45 min | 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 350° at 13 kt | −8 kt | 7 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 50 min | 1:11 am EDT (05:11 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 360° at 12 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 54 min | 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 350° at 12 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 52 min | 1:13 am EDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 340° at 13 kt | −9 kt | -4 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 48 min | 1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 340° at 15 kt | −12 kt | -9 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 43 min | 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 15 kt | −12 kt | -10 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 43 min | 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -21 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 33 min | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -35 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 26 min | 12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 29 kt | −25 kt | -40 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 23 min | 12:44 am EDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 35 kt | −32 kt | -48 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 14 min | 12:35 am EDT (04:35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 38 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° |
| FWA | used from 49 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| CMH | used from 197 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| EKN | used from 344 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° |
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 Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 29 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 596 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 69 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 138 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 814 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| VNW Van Wert, OH | 167 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 786 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| MRT Marysville, OH | 236 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,020 ft | 21:09 UTC |
| CMH Columbus, OH | 256 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 815 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 334 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 858 ft | 00:58 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 383 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,223 ft | 01:09 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 413 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | calm | 3 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,987 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| VBW Bridgewater, VA | 462 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,165 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 9 mi | 1,100 ft | 640 ft | 9:12 pm EDT (01:12 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CHO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility 5 miles, rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet IFR
The whole forecast for CHO
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, rain showers, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility 5 miles, rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ORD, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 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 CHO 6:40 pm EDT (22:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CHO is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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, Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.
