Portland International to Chicago/Rockford International PDX → RFD
1,453 nautical miles (1,672 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 070° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:47 am CDT (14:47 UTC). 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: 615 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 first 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 557 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 169 to 617 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 269 to 458 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 279 to 1095 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 567 to 717 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 617 to 736 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 667 to 796 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 677 to 756 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). Over the route from 1214 to 1403 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 PDX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 1,500 ft, 32 nm north, 9:49 pm PDT (04:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final. 149 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSC UA /OV PSC120003/TM 0449/FL015/TP E75L/RM LLWS LOSS OF 8 KTS ON FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSC
- Where
- 3 nm southeast (120°) of PSC
- Time
- 04:49 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final
- E75L descending, 4 nm east, 9:35 pm PDT (04:35 UTC): light turbulence from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft, light rime icing from 8,000 ft to 12,000 ft, -10 °C. 149 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
GEG UA /OV PDT/TM 0435/FLDURD/TP E75L/TA M10/TB LT TURB 140-110/IC LT RIME 120-080
- Report
- a routine report filed through GEG
- Where
- over PDT
- Time
- 04:35 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Temperature
- −10 °C
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from 14,000 ft to 11,000 ft
- Icing
- lt rime from 12,000 ft to 8,000 ft
- B737 , 12 nm north, 10:31 pm PDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. 478 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 05:31 UTC
- Height
- at BURD
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
- GLF5 descending, 12 nm north, 8:46 pm PDT (03:46 UTC): remarks: broke out 100-150FT above ground. 478 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0346/FLDURD/TP GLF5/RM BROKE OUT 100-150FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 03:46 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Remarks
- broke out 100-150FT above ground
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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (PDX, YKM, LWS, DLN, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW, DBQ, JOT). 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 | 220° at 11 kt | −3 kt | 123 kt | 11 h 49 min | 12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 10 kt | 0 | 12 °C | 120 kt | 12 h 06 min | 12:55 pm CDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 8 kt | −1 kt | 6 °C | 121 kt | 12 h | 12:49 pm CDT (17:49 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 10 kt | −3 kt | 3 °C | 123 kt | 11 h 49 min | 12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | −7 kt | 1 °C | 127 kt | 11 h 26 min | 12:15 pm CDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −9 kt | -3 °C | 129 kt | 11 h 16 min | 12:05 pm CDT (17:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −10 kt | -7 °C | 130 kt | 11 h 11 min | 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −11 kt | -11 °C | 131 kt | 11 h 05 min | 11:54 am CDT (16:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 19 kt | −12 kt | -12 °C | 132 kt | 11 h | 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 22 kt | −14 kt | -23 °C | 134 kt | 10 h 51 min | 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 30 kt | −21 kt | -35 °C | 141 kt | 10 h 18 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 41 kt | −34 kt | -40 °C | 154 kt | 9 h 26 min | 10:15 am CDT (15:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 48 kt | −42 kt | -45 °C | 162 kt | 8 h 58 min | 9:47 am CDT (14:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 030/7 1° | 020/12 -6° | 020/29 -9° | 010/69 -16° | 010/81 -25° | 360/83 -40° | 360/67 -46° | 320/29 -42° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| LWS | used from 149 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| DLN | used from 348 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° | ||
| BIL | used from 498 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 647 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 746 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 896 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 1045 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MCW | used from 1194 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| DBQ | used from 1343 nm out; 17 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° |
| JOT | used from 1443 nm out; 62 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX Portland, OR | departure | no report just now | 30 ft | ||||
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 60 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 246 ft | ||||
| PDT Pendleton, OR | 159 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,494 ft | ||||
| RVF Twin Bridges, MT | 428 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,788 ft | ||||
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 478 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,473 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | 587 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,662 ft | ||||
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 796 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 945 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,744 ft | ||||
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 1105 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,430 ft | ||||
| FXY Forest City, IA | 1244 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,229 ft | ||||
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1383 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,076 ft | ||||
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | no report just now | 742 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,788 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:47 am CDT (14:47 UTC)
RFD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 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: Portland International, Chicago/Rockford International.