Seattle Paine Field International to Rickenbacker International PAE → LCK
1,751 nautical miles (2,015 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 075° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PAE is VFR, wind calm; LCK is IFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 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: 4 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 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 368 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 199 to 637 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 239 to 557 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 368 to 1134 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 647 to 726 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 1263 to 1303 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 last 149 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 PAE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 16 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, FSD, MCW, DBQ, JOT, FWA, CMH). 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 | 250° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 13 h 10 min | 10:17 pm EDT (02:17 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 2 °C | 129 kt | 13 h 34 min | 10:41 pm EDT (02:41 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 11 kt | −8 kt | 8 °C | 128 kt | 13 h 41 min | 10:48 pm EDT (02:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | −9 kt | 4 °C | 129 kt | 13 h 34 min | 10:41 pm EDT (02:41 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −11 kt | 1 °C | 131 kt | 13 h 22 min | 10:29 pm EDT (02:29 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −12 kt | -3 °C | 132 kt | 13 h 16 min | 10:23 pm EDT (02:23 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −12 kt | -7 °C | 132 kt | 13 h 16 min | 10:23 pm EDT (02:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −13 kt | -11 °C | 133 kt | 13 h 10 min | 10:17 pm EDT (02:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 17 kt | −13 kt | -12 °C | 133 kt | 13 h 10 min | 10:17 pm EDT (02:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 24 kt | −18 kt | -24 °C | 138 kt | 12 h 41 min | 9:48 pm EDT (01:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 27 kt | −22 kt | -36 °C | 142 kt | 12 h 20 min | 9:27 pm EDT (01:27 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 38 kt | −33 kt | -40 °C | 153 kt | 11 h 27 min | 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 48 kt | −45 kt | -46 °C | 165 kt | 10 h 37 min | 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -45° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| GEG | used from 99 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| GPI | used from 249 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 348 nm out; 70 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| BIL | used from 497 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 597 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| DIK | used from 746 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 845 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| ABR | used from 945 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| FSD | used from 1044 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| MCW | used from 1144 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| DBQ | used from 1293 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| JOT | used from 1442 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| FWA | used from 1542 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| CMH | used from 1691 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAE Everett, WA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 606 ft | 5:53 am PDT (12:53 UTC) |
| SFF Spokane, WA | 199 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet | from the east (080°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,956 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| GTF Great Falls, MT | 438 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 0.5 mi | 400 ft | 3,680 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| MLS Miles City, MT | 676 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 2,634 ft | 13:00 UTC |
| LEM Lemmon, SD | 836 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,572 ft | ||||
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 905 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,716 ft | 12:52 UTC |
| JYG St James, MN | 1174 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,067 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1363 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 1522 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 12:50 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 1621 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet Weather: mist | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | 25,000 ft | 814 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| LCK Columbus, OH | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 743 ft | 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,680 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LCK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LCK
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for PAE, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 318 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
- 6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 338 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
Daylight
Sunset at PAE 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC), at LCK 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LCK is after sunset there (6:57 pm EDT (22:57 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: Seattle Paine Field International, Rickenbacker International.