The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC)

Norfolk International to The Eastern Iowa Airport ORF → CID

778 nautical miles (896 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 297°, about 306° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC). Right now ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17; CID is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 20 to 549 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 30 to 150 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 140 to 210 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 150 to 289 nm out.
  • 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), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 50 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 ORF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • E145 at 800 ft, 10 nm northeast, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 70 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
    Report
    a routine report filed through RIC
    Where
    1 nm north (340°) of RIC
    Time
    06:07 UTC
    Height
    at 800 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
  • MD83 climbing, 23 nm north, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 359 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over LCK
    Time
    05:04 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    MD83
    Sky
    B010 T037
  • B38M at 29,000 ft, 23 nm southwest, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 599 nm along the route, 23 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
    Report
    a routine report filed through TIP
    Where
    over RBS
    Time
    04:52 UTC
    Height
    at 29,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Turbulence
    no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
  • B739 at 35,000 ft, 4 nm east, 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 609 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through TIP
    Where
    23 nm north (010°) of RBS
    Time
    07:05 UTC
    Height
    at 35,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B739
    Turbulence
    none

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 (ORF, RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, FWA, IND, JOT, DBQ). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft290° at 17 kt+18 kt12 °C102 kt7 h 38 min10:17 am CDT (15:17 UTC)
6,500 ft300° at 18 kt+18 kt13 °C102 kt7 h 38 min10:17 am CDT (15:17 UTC)
8,500 ft300° at 16 kt+16 kt10 °C104 kt7 h 29 min10:08 am CDT (15:08 UTC)
10,500 ft300° at 14 kt+14 kt6 °C106 kt7 h 20 min9:59 am CDT (14:59 UTC)
12,500 ft300° at 12 kt+12 kt3 °C108 kt7 h 12 min9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC)
14,500 ft300° at 16 kt+15 kt-1 °C105 kt7 h 25 min10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC)
16,500 ft290° at 19 kt+19 kt-5 °C101 kt7 h 42 min10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 21 kt+21 kt-8 °C99 kt7 h 52 min10:31 am CDT (15:31 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240290° at 27 kt+26 kt-19 °C94 kt8 h 17 min10:56 am CDT (15:56 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300290° at 31 kt+31 kt-34 °C89 kt8 h 44 min11:23 am CDT (16:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340290° at 44 kt+43 kt-41 °C77 kt10 h 06 min12:45 pm CDT (17:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390290° at 45 kt+44 kt-50 °C76 kt10 h 14 min12:53 pm CDT (17:53 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
ORFused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line250/24230/32 11°220/37 10°220/37 6°230/47 -5°230/62 -17°220/89 -30°220/93 -40°230/77 -51°
RICused from 50 nm out; 13 nm from the line270/23280/19 11°270/18 8°240/22 4°230/39 -7°220/55 -18°220/75 -30°230/83 -39°230/64 -50°
EKNused from 150 nm out; 46 nm from the line330/21 12°330/25 7°350/22 2°330/24 -10°310/27 -21°320/33 -35°290/31 -39°290/34 -47°
CRWused from 249 nm out; 32 nm from the line330/20330/23 11°340/25 8°340/21 2°340/33 -9°340/41 -20°330/42 -35°320/44 -39°320/43 -47°
CMHused from 299 nm out; 52 nm from the line330/15340/22 14°340/24 9°340/23 4°340/35 -9°340/49 -20°340/58 -37°330/70 -42°340/55 -47°
CVGused from 399 nm out; 51 nm from the line320/18350/32 16°350/35 10°350/30 3°330/30 -7°340/44 -20°340/58 -35°330/72 -41°320/36 -49°
FWAused from 449 nm out; 49 nm from the line300/17320/20 16°330/20 10°340/15 3°310/27 -8°320/37 -20°330/52 -36°330/65 -43°330/60 -50°
INDused from 499 nm out; 46 nm from the line290/16310/20 16°320/21 10°330/13 3°300/25 -7°320/32 -19°330/46 -34°320/61 -43°320/63 -50°
JOTused from 549 nm out; 56 nm from the line250/23270/22 15°250/16 10°240/9 4°280/22 -7°280/29 -19°300/29 -34°290/50 -43°300/64 -52°
DBQused from 698 nm out; 49 nm from the line230/33250/30 16°280/15 9°260/15 5°260/21 -7°260/24 -20°250/37 -33°270/42 -43°280/63 -52°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
ORF Norfolk, VA departure marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 10+ mi 2,900 ft 26 ft 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC)
PHF Newport News, VA 20 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots 10+ mi 2,300 ft 42 ft 07:02 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA 130 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet calm 10+ mi 6,000 ft 640 ft 06:53 UTC
HSP Hot Springs, VA 180 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line reported, no category from the west (280°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 0.25 mi none 3,792 ft 06:15 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV 289 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 1,400 ft 858 ft 07:09 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH 389 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 900 ft 1,076 ft 07:35 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH 419 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 800 ft 1,009 ft 06:56 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN 479 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Weather: mist from the south (180°) at 3 knots 5 mi none 937 ft 06:53 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN 549 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower low IFR Weather: mist calm 0.75 mi none 605 ft 07:36 UTC
DTG Dwight, IL 629 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line no report just now 632 ft
MLI Moline, IL 718 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots 10+ mi none 589 ft 06:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA destination VFR from the south (180°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 869 ft 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,792 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CID when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC)

Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CID
  • From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ORF, the departure
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
  • From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at CID 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 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

Radar now, the Southeast
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Norfolk International, The Eastern Iowa Airport.