Pittsfield Municipal to Chicago Executive PSF → PWK
649 nautical miles (746 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 288° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 7:37 am CDT (12:37 UTC). Right now PSF is IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; PWK is VFR, wind calm. 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
- 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 599 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 200 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 210 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 PSF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A333 descending, 12 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 449 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B739 descending, 12 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 449 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 48 nm south, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 469 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 48 nm south, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 469 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 05:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B738 at 1,300 ft, 48 nm south, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 469 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 04:45 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 7 forecast points nearest it (ALB, SYR, BUF, CLE, FWA, MKG, 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 | 310° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 5 h 45 min | 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 12 kt | +5 kt | 11 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 39 min | 7:37 am CDT (12:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 10 kt | +5 kt | 9 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 39 min | 7:37 am CDT (12:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 10 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 39 min | 7:37 am CDT (12:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | +7 kt | 1 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 45 min | 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +11 kt | -3 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 57 min | 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +15 kt | -7 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 11 min | 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 23 kt | +18 kt | -10 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 22 min | 8:20 am CDT (13:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | +23 kt | -21 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 41 min | 8:39 am CDT (13:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 35 kt | +26 kt | -37 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 54 min | 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 43 kt | +36 kt | -43 °C | 84 kt | 7 h 44 min | 9:42 am CDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 46 kt | +40 kt | -50 °C | 80 kt | 8 h 07 min | 10:05 am CDT (15:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB | used from 0 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| SYR | used from 100 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| BUF | used from 200 nm out; 30 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 299 nm out; 86 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° |
| FWA | used from 449 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| MKG | used from 499 nm out; 71 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° |
| JOT | used from 599 nm out; 54 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSF Pittsfield, MA | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,188 ft | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC) |
| ALB Albany, NY | 20 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north (350°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 600 ft | 284 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| BGM Binghamton, NY | 120 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 0.25 mi | 1,900 ft | 1,635 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 140 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 600 ft | 1,099 ft | 06:29 UTC |
| BUF Buffalo, NY | 239 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 726 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| DKK Dunkirk, NY | 269 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 692 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 349 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| DET Detroit, MI | 429 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 624 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| JXN Jackson, MI | 499 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | none | 1,000 ft | 06:32 UTC |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 529 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | none | 951 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 1:52 am CDT (06:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,635 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PWK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:37 am CDT (12:37 UTC)
PWK has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for PSF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 1½ miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility 3 miles, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,000 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 PSF 6:16 pm EDT (22:16 UTC), at PWK 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 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: Pittsfield Municipal, Chicago Executive.