Pensacola International to Chicago/Rockford International PNS → RFD
710 nautical miles (817 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 353°, about 355° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 3:39 pm CDT (20:39 UTC). Right now PNS is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 PNS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (MOB, MGM, BHM, HSV, BNA, CGI, EVV, SPI, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 5 h 55 min | 3:39 pm CDT (20:39 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +2 kt | 15 °C | 118 kt | 6 h 01 min | 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | +4 kt | 12 °C | 116 kt | 6 h 07 min | 3:51 pm CDT (20:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 14 min | 3:58 pm CDT (20:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | +7 kt | 5 °C | 113 kt | 6 h 17 min | 4:01 pm CDT (21:01 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | +8 kt | 1 °C | 112 kt | 6 h 20 min | 4:04 pm CDT (21:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | +9 kt | -3 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 24 min | 4:08 pm CDT (21:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 22 kt | +9 kt | -6 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 24 min | 4:08 pm CDT (21:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 27 kt | +11 kt | -18 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 31 min | 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 40 kt | +25 kt | -32 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 28 min | 5:12 pm CDT (22:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 47 kt | +32 kt | -39 °C | 88 kt | 8 h 04 min | 5:48 pm CDT (22:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 44 kt | +33 kt | -49 °C | 87 kt | 8 h 10 min | 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOB | used from 0 nm out; 53 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | L/V 11° | 300/9 6° | 330/12 -4° | 330/12 -16° | 340/28 -30° | 340/36 -40° | 360/34 -51° |
| MGM | used from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 350/14 | 320/18 17° | 320/17 11° | 300/14 5° | 330/13 -5° | 310/12 -17° | 330/29 -30° | 340/40 -40° | 350/32 -50° |
| BHM | used from 150 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 310/11 | 310/13 16° | 310/18 11° | 300/17 6° | 300/14 -5° | 300/20 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 320/43 -40° | 340/38 -50° |
| HSV | used from 200 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 290/11 | 300/10 15° | 300/17 12° | 290/20 6° | 290/18 -5° | 290/25 -17° | 310/38 -31° | 320/47 -40° | 330/43 -50° |
| BNA | used from 300 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 270/14 | 270/10 14° | 280/19 11° | 280/26 6° | 280/25 -6° | 280/31 -18° | 300/44 -32° | 300/53 -40° | 310/51 -49° |
| CGI | used from 350 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/17 15° | 250/25 11° | 260/27 7° | 270/35 -7° | 280/38 -17° | 300/63 -31° | 300/62 -38° | 300/55 -49° |
| EVV | used from 400 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 270/15 | 250/15 14° | 260/24 11° | 270/28 6° | 280/30 -7° | 280/34 -18° | 290/48 -33° | 290/59 -38° | 300/56 -48° |
| SPI | used from 500 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/21 15° | 260/11 12° | 280/19 6° | 270/23 -8° | 280/34 -20° | 290/55 -33° | 290/62 -37° | 290/55 -47° |
| JOT | used from 600 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/30 | 250/26 16° | 270/27 11° | 280/34 5° | 290/32 -8° | 280/37 -21° | 280/40 -36° | 290/46 -37° | 290/56 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNS Pensacola, FL | departure | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 120 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
| MVC Monroeville, AL | 60 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | no report just now | 419 ft | ||||
| SEM Selma, AL | 110 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37 | 3,300 ft | 166 ft | 01:30 UTC | |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | 170 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 169 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| MSL Muscle Shoals, AL | 260 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 550 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| PVE Lexington-Parsons, TN | 320 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 487 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| GDA Marion, KY | 410 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 652 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| FWC Fairfield, IL | 480 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| FOA Flora, IL | 500 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 472 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 610 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 13:56 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 680 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | none | 712 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 871 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, 3:39 pm CDT (20:39 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 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, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Tue 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
The forecast for PNS, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 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: Pensacola International, Chicago/Rockford International.