Philadelphia International to Hector International PHL → FAR
1,028 nautical miles (1,183 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 301°, about 313° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 9:57 am CDT (14:57 UTC). Right now PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots; FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 13 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 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
- SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 60 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- 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 first 499 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 160 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 219 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 648 to 758 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 last 80 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 PHL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 269 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
- Report
- an urgent report filed through DKK
- Where
- 40 nm west (280°) of DKK
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- no inj/dmg zob
- A319 at 23,000 ft, 34 nm east, 11:21 pm EDT (03:21 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 34 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
MJX UA /OV CYN345010/TM 0321/FL230/TP A319/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through MJX
- Where
- 10 nm north (345°) of CYN
- Time
- 03:21 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- moderate
- E145 at 600 ft, 19 nm southwest, 11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC): overcast above 600 ft. 70 nm along the route, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MDT UA /OV MDT/TM 0320/FL006/TP E145/SK OVC 006
- Report
- a routine report filed through MDT
- Where
- over MDT
- Time
- 03:20 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 600 ft
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 11 forecast points nearest it (ACY, AVP, PSB, BUF, CLE, MKG, TVC, GRB, DLH, AXN, GFK). 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 | 280° at 8 kt | +8 kt | 13 °C | 112 kt | 9 h 11 min | 9:57 am CDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 13 °C | 108 kt | 9 h 31 min | 10:17 am CDT (15:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 10 °C | 107 kt | 9 h 36 min | 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +13 kt | 6 °C | 107 kt | 9 h 36 min | 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 2 °C | 106 kt | 9 h 42 min | 10:28 am CDT (15:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | +18 kt | -2 °C | 102 kt | 10 h 05 min | 10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -7 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 29 min | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 25 kt | +24 kt | -10 °C | 96 kt | 10 h 42 min | 11:28 am CDT (16:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 30 kt | +30 kt | -21 °C | 90 kt | 11 h 25 min | 12:11 pm CDT (17:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 36 kt | +36 kt | -36 °C | 84 kt | 12 h 14 min | 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 43 kt | +43 kt | -44 °C | 77 kt | 13 h 21 min | 2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 55 kt | +54 kt | -52 °C | 66 kt | 15 h 35 min | 4:21 pm CDT (21:21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACY | used from 0 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -50° |
| AVP | used from 50 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| PSB | used from 100 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| BUF | used from 200 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| CLE | used from 249 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| MKG | used from 399 nm out; 119 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| TVC | used from 499 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 260/31 | 280/22 15° | 290/18 10° | 270/13 2° | 290/25 -10° | 300/35 -21° | 310/52 -37° | 320/59 -47° | 300/84 -54° |
| GRB | used from 599 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| DLH | used from 748 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 080/28 | 240/21 15° | 250/26 9° | 250/32 3° | 260/42 -11° | 270/40 -21° | 260/43 -36° | 260/46 -46° | 260/65 -54° |
| AXN | used from 898 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 100/14 | 250/21 14° | 240/24 12° | 240/31 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/40 -21° | 250/42 -36° | 260/48 -45° | 260/53 -50° |
| GFK | used from 998 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 070/18 | 100/10 9° | 250/11 6° | 250/27 1° | 250/34 -10° | 260/43 -21° | 260/39 -36° | 260/36 -46° | 260/59 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,000 ft | 35 ft | 1:11 am EDT (05:11 UTC) |
| RDG Reading, PA | 40 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 343 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| UNV State College, PA | 130 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,231 ft | 05:36 UTC |
| ERI Erie, PA | 259 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| PHN Port Huron, MI | 379 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 1,300 ft | 650 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | 449 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 668 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MBL Manistee, MI | 559 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 621 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 639 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 695 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| RCX Ladysmith, WI | 768 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,239 ft | 05:30 UTC |
| BRD Brainerd, MN | 918 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,232 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| DTL Detroit Lakes, MN | 988 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,395 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| FAR Fargo, ND | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 13 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 901 ft | 12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,395 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:57 am CDT (14:57 UTC)
Wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for FAR
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for PHL, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 249 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 249 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 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: Philadelphia International, Hector International.