Chicago O'Hare International to Northwest Florida Beaches International ORD → ECP
705 nautical miles (811 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 171°, about 174° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; ECP 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: 1,213 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 159 to 447 nm out.
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
- CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 9:41 pm CDT (02:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: produced by skypath. 616 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOI UA /OV MGM157029 /TM 0241 /FL280 /TP CRJ7 /TB MOD /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOI
- Where
- 29 nm southeast (157°) of MGM
- Time
- 02:41 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 11 nm east, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 30 nm along the route, 11 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, 48 nm east, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 189 nm along the route, 48 nm east 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
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 14 nm east, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 308 nm along the route, 14 nm east 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 8 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, EVV, BNA, HSV, BHM, MGM, TLH). 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 | −11 kt | 131 kt | 5 h 23 min | 3:50 am CDT (08:50 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 5 h 13 min | 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 14 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 09 min | 3:36 am CDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 10 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 09 min | 3:36 am CDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 6 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 16 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 17 kt | −14 kt | 2 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 16 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −15 kt | -2 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 13 min | 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 13 min | 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 22 kt | −15 kt | -7 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 13 min | 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 28 kt | −24 kt | -18 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 54 min | 3:21 am CDT (08:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 42 kt | −37 kt | -33 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 29 min | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 53 kt | −45 kt | -42 °C | 165 kt | 4 h 16 min | 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 47 kt | −42 kt | -50 °C | 162 kt | 4 h 21 min | 2:48 am CDT (07:48 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; 16 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; 57 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° |
| EVV | used from 199 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| BNA | used from 298 nm out; 34 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° |
| HSV | used from 397 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BHM | used from 496 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| MGM | used from 546 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| TLH | used from 645 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
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, 12 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| DNV Danville, IL | 109 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 696 ft | ||||
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 159 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 589 ft | 03:00 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 258 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 407 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 348 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 501 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | 357 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 599 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 447 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 506 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| TOI Troy, AL | 616 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 397 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| EDN Enterprise, AL | 645 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 360 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| ECP Panama City, FL | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 68 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 696 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ECP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC)
Wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ECP
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 6 nm from the route, 338 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at ECP 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:39 pm CDT (23:39 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ECP is before sunrise there (6:43 am CDT (11:43 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, Northwest Florida Beaches International.