Plan a flight · Sun 10:36 pm EDT (02:36 UTC)

Oakland County International to Lincoln Airport PTK → LNK

607 nautical miles (698 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PTK is IFR, wind calm; LNK is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 9 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: 2 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 10 nm of the route.
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 last 189 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 PTK.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A320 at 33,000 ft, 14 nm south, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 80 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
CRJ7 at 600 ft, 27 nm south, 10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
02:07 UTC
Height
at the surface
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 1,500 ft
SR22 at 1,300 ft, 3 nm west, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
3 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
bases 1,900 ft overcast
CRJ7 descending, 27 nm south, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
final 3R
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 2,800 ft
C550 at 2,300 ft, 0 nm south, 8:46 pm EDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
4W
Time
00:46 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C550
Remarks
fis 4 mile final
A21N descending, 27 nm south, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
CRJ9 descending, 27 nm south, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
final runway 4L
A320 descending, 20 nm north, 10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 0209/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY18 FNT
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
over FNT
Time
02:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
on final runway 18 fnt
A320 descending, 19 nm north, 9:35 pm EDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. At the departure end, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT270008/TM 0135/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC019 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY09 FNT
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
8 nm west (270°) of FNT
Time
01:35 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
on final runway 09 fnt
E170 at 21,000 ft, 8 nm south, 9:07 pm EDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 50 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAN
Where
20 nm south (180°) of LAN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
lght chop
Remarks
during the climb zob
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 13 nm south, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 80 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over BTL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 3,100 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
tops 3,100 ft
B38M at 31,000 ft, 15 nm south, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 99 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 12 nm south, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 159 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
B39M at 35,000 ft, 46 nm south, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 189 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth

2 more routine reports are on the map.

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 5 forecast points nearest it (MKG, JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA). 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	240° at 28 kt	+27 kt		93 kt	6 h 32 min	4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 23 kt	+24 kt	15 °C	96 kt	6 h 19 min	3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	+16 kt	11 °C	104 kt	5 h 50 min	3:26 am CDT (08:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	260° at 13 kt	+13 kt	7 °C	107 kt	5 h 40 min	3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 13 kt	+13 kt	4 °C	107 kt	5 h 40 min	3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC)
14,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	+17 kt	-1 °C	103 kt	5 h 54 min	3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	+21 kt	-5 °C	99 kt	6 h 08 min	3:44 am CDT (08:44 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 24 kt	+24 kt	-8 °C	96 kt	6 h 19 min	3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 29 kt	+28 kt	-19 °C	92 kt	6 h 36 min	4:12 am CDT (09:12 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-34 °C	85 kt	7 h 08 min	4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 49 kt	+46 kt	-43 °C	74 kt	8 h 12 min	5:48 am CDT (10:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 63 kt	+56 kt	-52 °C	64 kt	9 h 29 min	7:05 am CDT (12:05 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
MKG	used from 0 nm out; 105 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 149 nm out; 61 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°
DBQ	used from 249 nm out; 57 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°
DSM	used from 398 nm out; 39 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
OMA	used from 497 nm out; 43 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°

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
PTK Pontiac, MI	departure	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist	calm	5 mi	500 ft	980 ft	9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC)
LAN Lansing, MI	50 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	860 ft	02:00 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	80 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	951 ft	01:53 UTC
LWA South Haven, MI	129 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	none	665 ft	02:15 UTC
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	199 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	644 ft	01:52 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	249 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	01:54 UTC
CWI Clinton, IA	308 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	707 ft	00:56 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	368 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	00:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	457 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	957 ft	01:54 UTC
GFZ Greenfield, IA	497 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				1,363 ft
OMA Omaha, NE	567 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	01:52 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	destination	VFR	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,363 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LNK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC)

Wind from the south at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LNK

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for PTK, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 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 PTK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at LNK 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LNK is before sunrise there (7:34 am CDT (12:34 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Oakland County International, Lincoln Airport.