Chicago/Rockford International to Columbia Metro Airport RFD → CAE
622 nautical miles (716 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 140°, about 143° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; CAE is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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: 6 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 route from 148 to 494 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 385 to 504 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 474 to 533 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 484 to 593 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
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 29 nm southwest, 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 99 nm along the route, 29 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
- B738 descending, 50 nm southwest, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. 444 nm along the route, 50 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Remarks
- multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
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 6 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, LOU, TRI, GSP, CAE). 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 | 300° at 17 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 4 h 36 min | 6:48 am EDT (10:48 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 28 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 12 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 27 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 8 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 28 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 5 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 30 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 1 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 27 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -3 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 21 min | 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 17 min | 6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -7 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 16 min | 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 31 kt | −31 kt | -19 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 07 min | 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -34 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 56 min | 6:08 am EDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 48 kt | −47 kt | -41 °C | 167 kt | 3 h 43 min | 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 49 kt | −49 kt | -50 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 41 min | 5:53 am EDT (09:53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 33 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° |
| IND | used from 148 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| LOU | used from 247 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| TRI | used from 395 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| GSP | used from 494 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| CAE | used from 593 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC) |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 40 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| IKK Kankakee, IL | 89 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 629 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 148 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 605 ft | 06:01 UTC |
| BAK Columbus, IN | 227 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 01:45 UTC |
| FFT Frankfort, KY | 306 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 812 ft | 05:53 UTC | |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 326 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 1 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 385 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| GCY Greeneville, TN | 464 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 600 ft | 1,607 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 504 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet | variable at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 2,163 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| EOE Newberry, SC | 593 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 570 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | destination | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CAE
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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
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 CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CAE is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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: Chicago/Rockford International, Columbia Metro Airport.