The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 1:01 am CDT (06:01 UTC)

Chicago Executive to Pittsfield Municipal PWK → PSF

649 nautical miles (746 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 083°, about 085° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PWK is VFR, wind calm; PSF is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 4 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 return flight

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 last 599 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 210 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 200 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 PWK.

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

  • urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 5 nm east, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 339 nm along the route, 5 nm east 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
  • B738 at 1,800 ft, 48 nm south, 12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 180 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, 11:45 pm CDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 180 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
  • A333 descending, 12 nm south, 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 200 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, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 200 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
  • A320 descending, 12 nm south, 10:27 pm CDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. 200 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    over DTW
    Time
    03:27 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    at 1,400 ft overcast

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 7 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE, BUF, SYR, ALB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft290° at 9 kt−8 kt128 kt5 h 04 min7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC)
5,500 ft330° at 11 kt−6 kt126 kt5 h 09 min7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC)
7,500 ft330° at 11 kt−5 kt10 °C125 kt5 h 12 min7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC)
9,500 ft330° at 10 kt−5 kt7 °C125 kt5 h 12 min7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC)
11,500 ft320° at 10 kt−6 kt3 °C126 kt5 h 09 min7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC)
13,500 ft310° at 13 kt−9 kt-1 °C129 kt5 h 02 min7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC)
15,500 ft310° at 17 kt−13 kt-5 °C133 kt4 h 53 min6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC)
17,500 ft310° at 22 kt−17 kt-9 °C137 kt4 h 44 min6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180300° at 23 kt−18 kt-10 °C138 kt4 h 42 min6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240300° at 28 kt−23 kt-21 °C143 kt4 h 32 min6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300310° at 35 kt−26 kt-37 °C146 kt4 h 27 min6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340300° at 43 kt−36 kt-43 °C156 kt4 h 10 min6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390300° at 46 kt−39 kt-50 °C159 kt4 h 05 min6:06 am EDT (10:06 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
JOTused from 0 nm out; 54 nm from the line250/23270/22 15°250/16 10°240/9 4°280/22 -7°280/29 -19°300/29 -34°290/50 -43°300/64 -52°
MKGused from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line260/22290/16 15°300/11 10°290/5 3°300/26 -9°300/32 -20°320/48 -36°320/61 -45°310/74 -53°
FWAused from 150 nm out; 100 nm from the line300/17320/20 16°330/20 10°340/15 3°310/27 -8°320/37 -20°330/52 -36°330/65 -43°330/60 -50°
CLEused from 200 nm out; 76 nm from the line340/7010/16 13°350/18 8°350/20 3°340/31 -10°340/46 -21°340/54 -37°330/62 -44°340/65 -49°
BUFused from 349 nm out; 42 nm from the line320/10010/16 10°360/10 6°340/13 2°330/22 -11°300/25 -23°320/31 -38°300/29 -44°280/36 -50°
SYRused from 449 nm out; 61 nm from the line280/13350/18 10°340/10 6°300/15 1°280/17 -12°270/16 -23°280/25 -38°250/40 -42°240/53 -50°
ALBused from 549 nm out; 54 nm from the line120/9270/8 10°L/V 5°260/9 1°260/34 -10°250/42 -22°240/57 -35°240/70 -42°240/65 -50°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL departure VFR calm 10+ mi none 644 ft 12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC)
BTL Battle Creek, MI 120 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 951 ft 05:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI 150 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower low IFR Weather: fog from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots 0.5 mi none 1,000 ft 05:56 UTC
DET Detroit, MI 220 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet from the west (280°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 1,100 ft 624 ft 05:53 UTC
CYQS St Thomas, 299 nm out, 17 nm north of the line no report just now 776 ft
DKK Dunkirk, NY 379 nm out, 5 nm east of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,500 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 9,500 ft 692 ft 05:53 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY 409 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet from the south (170°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 14,000 ft 726 ft 05:54 UTC
ITH Ithaca, NY 509 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet Weather: mist calm 1 mi 500 ft 1,099 ft 05:56 UTC
BGM Binghamton, NY 529 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 1,900 ft 1,635 ft 05:53 UTC
ALB Albany, NY 629 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist from the north (350°) at 5 knots 5 mi 600 ft 284 ft 05:51 UTC
PSF Pittsfield, MA destination IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet from the north (350°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 800 ft 1,188 ft 1:54 am EDT (05:54 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 PSF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility 1½ miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR

The whole forecast for PSF
  • 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 PWK 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at PSF 6:16 pm EDT (22:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PSF is before sunrise there (7:02 am EDT (11:02 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 upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Chicago Executive, Pittsfield Municipal.