Plan a flight · Sun 8:39 pm CDT (01:39 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Bradley International RFD → BDL

731 nautical miles (841 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 089° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; BDL is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 10 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: 1,184 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 last 494 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 316 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 464 to 681 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 13,000 ft. Over the last 148 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 602 to 652 nm out.

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 RFD.

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

urgent PC12 at 11,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent on wipor arrival. At the destination end, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IJD UUA /OV ORW340007/TM 2329/FL110/TP PC12/TB MOD 110-100 SEV 100-080/RM DURD ON WIPOR ARR
```
Report
an urgent report filed through IJD
Where
7 nm north (340°) of ORW
Time
23:29 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
moderate from 11,000 ft to 10,000 ft severe from 10,000 ft to 8,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent on wipor arrival
A320 at 33,000 ft, 4 nm south, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 178 nm along the route, 4 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
PC12 at 8,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. 661 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
POU UA /OV IGN340030/TM 2329/FL080/TP PC12/TB MOD CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through POU
Where
30 nm north (340°) of IGN
Time
23:29 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
E75S at 10,000 ft, 3 nm southeast, 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. 681 nm along the route, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
POU UA /OV PWL350015/TM 2353/FL100/TP E75S/TB MOD CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through POU
Where
15 nm north (350°) of PWL
Time
23:53 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
A388 at 34,000 ft, 16 nm north, 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 691 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
POU UA /OV PWL010030/TM 2319/FL340/TP A388/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through POU
Where
30 nm north (010°) of PWL
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A388
Turbulence
moderate chop
E75S at 16,000 ft, 12 nm south, 7:28 pm CDT (00:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
POU UA /OV PWL100025/TM 0028/FL160/TP E75S/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through POU
Where
25 nm east (100°) of PWL
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
moderate chop
GLF4 at 10,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 8:03 pm CDT (01:03 UTC): moderate turbulence above 10,000 ft, light rain, remarks: instrument conditions. At the destination end, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BDL UA /OV CEF060010/TM 0103/FL100/TP GLF4/WX -RA/TB MOD 100/RM IMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BDL
Where
10 nm northeast (060°) of CEF
Time
01:03 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Weather
light rain
Turbulence
moderate at 10,000 ft
Remarks
instrument conditions
PC12 at 10,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BDL UA /OV HFD100017/TM 2353/FL100/TP PC12/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BDL
Where
17 nm east (100°) of HFD
Time
23:53 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
moderate
E75S at 16,000 ft, 37 nm east, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence above 16,000 ft, remarks: moderate in +ra to light chop. At the destination end, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SFZ UA /OV PUT360003/TM 2335/FL160/TP E75S/TB MOD 160 CAT/RM MOD IN +RA TO LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through SFZ
Where
3 nm north (360°) of PUT
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
moderate at 16,000 ft clear-air turbulence
Remarks
moderate in +ra to light chop
B39M at 35,000 ft, 46 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 69 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
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 10 nm south, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 89 nm along the route, 10 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
B38M at 31,000 ft, 6 nm south, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 158 nm along the route, 6 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
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 4 nm southeast, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 168 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast 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
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 42 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 188 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE, BUF, SYR, AVP, ALB, BDL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	170° at 7 kt	+2 kt		118 kt	6 h 12 min	3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 5 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	5 h 57 min	3:36 am EDT (07:36 UTC)
7,500 ft	280° at 7 kt	−6 kt	10 °C	126 kt	5 h 48 min	3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC)
9,500 ft	290° at 9 kt	−8 kt	7 °C	128 kt	5 h 43 min	3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 10 kt	−9 kt	4 °C	129 kt	5 h 40 min	3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−10 kt	0 °C	130 kt	5 h 37 min	3:16 am EDT (07:16 UTC)
15,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	−12 kt	-5 °C	132 kt	5 h 32 min	3:11 am EDT (07:11 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	−14 kt	-9 °C	134 kt	5 h 27 min	3:06 am EDT (07:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 15 kt	−14 kt	-10 °C	134 kt	5 h 27 min	3:06 am EDT (07:06 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 18 kt	−17 kt	-21 °C	137 kt	5 h 20 min	2:59 am EDT (06:59 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 31 kt	−29 kt	-35 °C	149 kt	4 h 54 min	2:33 am EDT (06:33 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 44 kt	−41 kt	-42 °C	161 kt	4 h 32 min	2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 49 kt	−46 kt	-50 °C	166 kt	4 h 24 min	2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 45 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
MKG	used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
FWA	used from 197 nm out; 97 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CLE	used from 247 nm out; 77 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
BUF	used from 395 nm out; 55 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -50°
SYR	used from 543 nm out; 56 nm from the line	160/17	200/22 10°	250/10 6°	L/V 1°	270/11 -11°	220/25 -20°	220/66 -36°	230/89 -42°	240/74 -51°
AVP	used from 592 nm out; 53 nm from the line	110/36	190/34 13°	230/11 8°	230/16 4°	230/26 -8°	220/40 -19°	230/73 -33°	230/98 -41°	230/87 -51°
ALB	used from 642 nm out; 44 nm from the line	160/27	190/16 9°	200/29 7°	230/21 3°	240/24 -9°	240/43 -19°	230/65 -33°	240/91 -42°	230/99 -53°
BDL	used from 691 nm out; 20 nm from the line	140/28	180/29 10°	220/38 8°	250/30 3°	250/40 -8°	240/46 -18°	240/58 -32°	240/80 -41°	240/89 -55°

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
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC)
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	49 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	644 ft	00:52 UTC
LWA South Haven, MI	128 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	665 ft	01:35 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	168 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	00:53 UTC
DET Detroit, MI	267 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	500 ft	624 ft	01:01 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	355 nm out, 24 nm north of the line	no report just now				776 ft
ERI Erie, PA	395 nm out, 16 nm south 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
OLE Olean, NY	474 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the east (080°) at 5 knots	2 mi	200 ft	2,135 ft	23:35 UTC
BGM Binghamton, NY	582 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots	2 mi	200 ft	1,635 ft	01:20 UTC
MSV Monticello, NY	642 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	400 ft	1,403 ft	00:56 UTC
POU Poughkeepsie, NY	681 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots	5 mi	2,200 ft	163 ft	00:53 UTC
BDL Windsor Locks, CT	destination	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north (010°) at 10 knots	2 mi	2,400 ft	173 ft	9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,135 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BDL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC)

Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR

30% chance between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 100 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for BDL

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, rain, mist, a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
30% chance between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for RFD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at BDL 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm EDT (22:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BDL is before sunrise there (6:59 am EDT (10:59 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 · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the Northeast · 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: Chicago/Rockford International, Bradley International.