Chicago/Rockford International to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International RFD → CVG
276 nautical miles (318 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 132°, about 135° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:22 pm EDT (03:22 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; CVG is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) 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: 435 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 79 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast 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
- E170 at 23,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- light
- B744 climbing, 5 nm east, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. At the destination end, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 north cvg
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- B022 overcast T036
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
- B737 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over CVG
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B739 climbing, 7 nm west, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 23:31 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- B026 overcast T036
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 3 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, CVG). 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 | 290° at 8 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 2 h 10 min | 11:58 pm EDT (03:58 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 2 h 03 min | 11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 13 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 59 min | 11:47 pm EDT (03:47 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −21 kt | 9 °C | 141 kt | 1 h 57 min | 11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 5 °C | 141 kt | 1 h 57 min | 11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 1 °C | 141 kt | 1 h 57 min | 11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -4 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 57 min | 11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 57 min | 11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 57 min | 11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 36 kt | −33 kt | -20 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 48 min | 11:36 pm EDT (03:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 47 kt | −45 kt | -37 °C | 165 kt | 1 h 40 min | 11:28 pm EDT (03:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 49 kt | −49 kt | -43 °C | 169 kt | 1 h 38 min | 11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 56 kt | −56 kt | -48 °C | 176 kt | 1 h 34 min | 11:22 pm EDT (03:22 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; 33 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° |
| IND | used from 148 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| CVG | used from 247 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 350/13 | 340/20 13° | 340/22 8° | 350/30 3° | 340/30 -9° | 340/38 -21° | 330/37 -35° | 320/38 -40° | 310/35 -47° |
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) |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 39 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 59 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 01:30 UTC |
| MCX Monticello, IN | 138 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 678 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 148 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| AID Anderson, IN | 197 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 919 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| HLB Batesville, IN | 247 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,000 feet | calm | 7 mi | none | 975 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 9:21 pm EDT (01:21 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 975 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CVG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:22 pm EDT (03:22 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CVG
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CVG is after sunset there (7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International.