Chicago O'Hare International to Fairbanks International ORD → FAI
2,414 nautical miles (2,778 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 325°, about 328° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 18 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:58 pm AKDT (02:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots; FAI is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 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: 341 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 210 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 389 to 529 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
- BE20 at 12,000 ft, 4 nm west, 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC): light chop turbulence from 10,000 ft to 12,000 ft, no icing, remarks: during the descent 5M fna for runway 02L ais at 2,500 ft fai approach akfss. At the destination end, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAI UA /OV FAI /TM 0645 /FL120 /TP BE20 /TB LGT CHOP 120-100 /IC NEG /RM DURD 5M FNA FOR RWY02L AIS 025 FAI APCH AKFSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAI
- Where
- over FAI
- Time
- 06:45 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Turbulence
- light chop from 12,000 ft to 10,000 ft
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent 5M fna for runway 02L ais at 2,500 ft fai approach akfss
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even 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 (JOT, DBQ, LSE, DLH, INL, GFK, MOT, GGW, GPI, SEA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 090° at 8 kt | −8 kt | -1 °C | 128 kt | 18 h 52 min | 6:58 pm AKDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 100° at 6 kt | −7 kt | 3 °C | 127 kt | 19 h | 7:06 pm AKDT (03:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 140° at 4 kt | −6 kt | 0 °C | 126 kt | 19 h 10 min | 7:16 pm AKDT (03:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 1 kt | −4 kt | -2 °C | 124 kt | 19 h 28 min | 7:34 pm AKDT (03:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 4 kt | −2 kt | -4 °C | 122 kt | 19 h 47 min | 7:53 pm AKDT (03:53 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 9 kt | +2 kt | -7 °C | 118 kt | 20 h 27 min | 8:33 pm AKDT (04:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +6 kt | -11 °C | 114 kt | 21 h 11 min | 9:17 pm AKDT (05:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 17 kt | +8 kt | -13 °C | 112 kt | 21 h 33 min | 9:39 pm AKDT (05:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 16 kt | +6 kt | -24 °C | 114 kt | 21 h 11 min | 9:17 pm AKDT (05:17 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 25 kt | +11 kt | -38 °C | 109 kt | 22 h 09 min | 10:15 pm AKDT (06:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 28 kt | +15 kt | -45 °C | 105 kt | 22 h 59 min | 11:05 pm AKDT (07:05 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 43 kt | +24 kt | -47 °C | 96 kt | 25 h 09 min | 1:15 am AKDT (09:15 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; 48 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° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| LSE | used from 100 nm out; 75 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° |
| DLH | used from 249 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 080/28 | 240/21 15° | 250/26 9° | 250/32 3° | 260/42 -11° | 270/40 -21° | 260/43 -36° | 260/46 -46° | 260/65 -54° |
| INL | used from 399 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 080/23 | L/V 9° | 260/22 5° | 260/27 0° | 260/43 -11° | 270/47 -21° | 270/57 -36° | 270/54 -47° | 270/69 -56° |
| GFK | used from 549 nm out; 102 nm from the line | 070/18 | 100/10 9° | 250/11 6° | 250/27 1° | 250/34 -10° | 260/43 -21° | 260/39 -36° | 260/36 -46° | 260/59 -53° |
| MOT | used from 698 nm out; 210 nm from the line | 120/14 5° | 200/20 4° | 230/33 1° | 250/39 -11° | 250/50 -21° | 240/61 -37° | 250/56 -45° | 260/68 -51° | |
| GGW | used from 998 nm out; 408 nm from the line | 110/23 0° | 130/20 -2° | 170/24 -3° | 230/44 -11° | 220/51 -21° | 210/52 -39° | 220/64 -44° | 240/85 -48° | |
| GPI | used from 1247 nm out; 573 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| SEA | used from 1696 nm out; 850 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
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 broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 680 ft | 2:51 am CDT (07:51 UTC) |
| MSN Madison, WI | 90 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| VWU Waskish, MN | 469 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: haze | from the northeast (050°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 500 ft | 1,184 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| RRT Warroad, MN | 519 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the northeast (050°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 1,075 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CYDA Dawson City, | 2185 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 4 knots | 20 mi | 10,000 ft | 1,215 ft | 23:00 UTC |
| FAI Fairbanks, AK | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 1,000 ft | 439 ft | 11:53 pm AKDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,215 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:58 pm AKDT (02:58 UTC)
Wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FAI
- From Sun 10:00 pm AKDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am AKDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC) and 10:00 am AKDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
The forecast for ORD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 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 FAI 6:36 pm AKDT (02:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm AKDT (03:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FAI is after sunset there (6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 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, Fairbanks International.