The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 9:05 pm EDT (01:05 UTC)

Norfolk International to Chicago O'Hare International ORF → ORD

622 nautical miles (716 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 303°, about 312° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 1:32 am CDT (06:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 3,687 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). Over the route from 118 to 178 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 138 to 207 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 138 to 286 nm out.
  • 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 237 to 454 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 ORF.

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

  • UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 217 nm along the route, 32 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
  • B38M at 29,000 ft, 50 nm northeast, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 257 nm along the route, 50 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
  • BCS3 at 600 ft, 5 nm east, 8:06 pm EDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 69 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
    Report
    a routine report filed through RIC
    Where
    over RIC
    Time
    00:06 UTC
    Height
    at 600 ft
    Aircraft
    BCS3
    Sky
    bases 600 ft
  • E170 at 500 ft, 6 nm north, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 128 nm along the route, 6 nm north 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
  • E175 at 600 ft, 6 nm north, 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 128 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CHO UA /OV CHO/TM 2220/FL006/TP E175/SK BASES 006
    Report
    a routine report filed through CHO
    Where
    over CHO
    Time
    22:20 UTC
    Height
    at 600 ft
    Aircraft
    E175
    Sky
    bases 600 ft
  • B737 at 40,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 207 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    IND UA /OV EKN150020/TM 2211/FL400/TP B737/TB NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through IND
    Where
    20 nm southeast (150°) of EKN
    Time
    22:11 UTC
    Height
    at 40,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Turbulence
    none
  • BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 4 nm north, 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 286 nm along the route, 4 nm north 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
  • P28A descending, 28 nm southwest, 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,200 ft. 316 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    HTS UA /OV KUNI/TM 2214/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK SCT012/WX 3SM
    Report
    a routine report filed through HTS
    Where
    over KUNI
    Time
    22:14 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    P28A
    Sky
    scattered clouds from 1,200 ft
    Weather
    3SM
  • C150 climbing, 10 nm southwest, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 346 nm along the route, 10 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 3,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 365 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest 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 at 1,500 ft, 4 nm southeast, 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 395 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV MRT/TM 2218/FL015/TP C150/SK OVC018
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over MRT
    Time
    22:18 UTC
    Height
    at 1,500 ft
    Aircraft
    C150
    Sky
    overcast from 1,800 ft
  • E145 climbing, 36 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 415 nm along the route, 36 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
  • A321 at 21,000 ft, 12 nm south, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 425 nm along the route, 12 nm south 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
  • E545 at 28,000 ft, 12 nm south, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence. 425 nm along the route, 12 nm south 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

5 more routine reports are on the map.

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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (ORF, RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, FWA, JOT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft260° at 10 kt+7 kt13 °C113 kt5 h 30 min1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC)
6,500 ft270° at 11 kt+9 kt13 °C111 kt5 h 36 min1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC)
8,500 ft280° at 9 kt+8 kt10 °C112 kt5 h 33 min1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC)
10,500 ft280° at 7 kt+6 kt6 °C114 kt5 h 27 min1:32 am CDT (06:32 UTC)
12,500 ft280° at 7 kt+6 kt3 °C114 kt5 h 27 min1:32 am CDT (06:32 UTC)
14,500 ft280° at 10 kt+9 kt-1 °C111 kt5 h 36 min1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC)
16,500 ft290° at 13 kt+11 kt-6 °C109 kt5 h 42 min1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 15 kt+14 kt-9 °C106 kt5 h 52 min1:57 am CDT (06:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240270° at 23 kt+18 kt-20 °C102 kt6 h 06 min2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300260° at 31 kt+21 kt-33 °C99 kt6 h 17 min2:22 am CDT (07:22 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 37 kt+22 kt-40 °C98 kt6 h 21 min2:26 am CDT (07:26 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 40 kt+27 kt-49 °C93 kt6 h 41 min2:46 am CDT (07:46 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
ORFused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line210/45210/41 15°210/39 13°220/37 7°230/55 -5°230/65 -16°220/71 -30°220/75 -40°220/72 -53°
RICused from 49 nm out; 9 nm from the line190/33200/29 14°210/31 12°210/38 6°230/42 -7°230/68 -16°220/84 -29°220/86 -40°220/81 -52°
EKNused from 148 nm out; 39 nm from the line270/18 13°310/5 7°140/7 3°210/16 -9°220/41 -20°210/57 -32°220/57 -38°230/49 -47°
CRWused from 247 nm out; 58 nm from the line320/16310/16 12°320/12 7°320/12 2°330/15 -11°280/11 -22°230/26 -30°240/33 -37°240/37 -47°
CMHused from 296 nm out; 45 nm from the line340/14320/13 12°350/12 8°360/10 2°350/27 -10°340/20 -22°320/31 -35°270/25 -39°260/32 -48°
FWAused from 444 nm out; 17 nm from the line350/9350/24 15°360/25 9°360/29 4°350/31 -10°340/39 -22°330/40 -37°320/38 -43°320/48 -48°
JOTused from 543 nm out; 61 nm from the line230/11290/12 16°300/19 10°320/19 4°300/17 -9°330/31 -20°320/49 -37°320/53 -45°320/67 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
ORF Norfolk, VA departure VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots 10+ mi none 26 ft 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)
PHF Newport News, VA 20 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 10+ mi none 42 ft 00:54 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA 69 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet from the west-southwest (240°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27 10+ mi 4,000 ft 167 ft 00:59 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA 128 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist from the south (190°) at 5 knots 1.25 mi 300 ft 640 ft 00:53 UTC
CKB Clarksburg, WV 237 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 2,400 ft 1,223 ft 00:53 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV 286 nm out, 4 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
CMH Columbus, OH 365 nm out, 2 nm southwest 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
OSU Columbus, OH 375 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots 4 mi 900 ft 905 ft 00:53 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN 484 nm out, 2 nm northwest 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
SBN South Bend, IN 553 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 798 ft 00:54 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN 592 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR calm 8 mi none 596 ft 00:50 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL destination 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)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,223 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:32 am CDT (06:32 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for ORD
  • 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
The forecast for ORF, the departure
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
  • From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 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, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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, Chicago O'Hare International.