Chicago O'Hare International to Eppley Airfield ORD → OMA
360 nautical miles (415 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 266°, about 269° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 1:14 am CDT (06:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots; OMA is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 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: 6,081 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 last 146 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
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 32 nm southeast 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, 41 nm east, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 41 nm east 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
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 6 nm northwest, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 68 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 6 nm south, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 166 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
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 4 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA). 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 | 240° at 32 kt | +29 kt | 91 kt | 3 h 57 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | +27 kt | 16 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 52 min | 1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 3 h 32 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 7 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 26 min | 1:14 am CDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 4 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 26 min | 1:14 am CDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 0 °C | 102 kt | 3 h 32 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 40 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 45 min | 1:33 am CDT (06:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 29 kt | +29 kt | -19 °C | 91 kt | 3 h 57 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 38 kt | +38 kt | -33 °C | 82 kt | 4 h 23 min | 2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 49 kt | +50 kt | -42 °C | 70 kt | 5 h 09 min | 2:57 am CDT (07:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 62 kt | +60 kt | -51 °C | 60 kt | 6 h | 3:48 am CDT (08:48 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; 29 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 49 nm out; 61 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° |
| DSM | used from 195 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 292 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
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-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC) |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 19 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 758 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 49 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 117 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| OQW Maquoketa, IA | 127 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | no report just now | 773 ft | ||||
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 166 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| GGI Grinnell, IA | 214 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,008 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 263 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 957 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| GFZ Greenfield, IA | 292 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,363 ft | ||||
| AIO Atlantic, IA | 322 nm out, 0 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,164 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 984 ft | 8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,363 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At OMA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:14 am CDT (06:14 UTC)
Wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for OMA
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at OMA 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at OMA is before sunrise there (7:31 am CDT (12:31 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, Eppley Airfield.