Chicago/Rockford International to Fresno Yosemite International RFD → FAT
1,447 nautical miles (1,666 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 267°, about 270° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 2:31 pm PDT (21:31 UTC). 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 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 route from 50 to 629 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 609 to 1048 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 649 to 1288 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 route from 739 to 908 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 829 to 1218 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 908 to 1228 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1318 nm along 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 RFD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 17,000 ft, 34 nm north, 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 1338 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through TPH
- Where
- over OAL
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Temperature
- −15 °C
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Icing
- moderate rime
- Remarks
- entered by zoa fdcs
- B738 descending, 44 nm south, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 719 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 11 nm northwest, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 749 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
- A20N at 25,000 ft, 43 nm south, 1:19 am CDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 759 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 45 nm west (250°) of DEN
- Time
- 06:19 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A20N
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-06
- E170 at 4,800 ft, 40 nm south, 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. 898 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 06:31 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc
- A321 at 31,000 ft, 38 nm south, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: mountain wave zlc. 1008 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CNY UA /OV HVE340015/TM 0615/FL310/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP /RM MTN WAVE /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CNY
- Where
- 15 nm north (340°) of HVE
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- mountain wave zlc
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 11 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, BFF, DEN, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, FAT). 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 | 230° at 25 kt | +20 kt | 21 °C | 100 kt | 14 h 28 min | 2:31 pm PDT (21:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +20 kt | 16 °C | 100 kt | 14 h 28 min | 2:31 pm PDT (21:31 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 14 h 28 min | 2:31 pm PDT (21:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +21 kt | 5 °C | 99 kt | 14 h 37 min | 2:40 pm PDT (21:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +23 kt | 2 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 55 min | 2:58 pm PDT (21:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +25 kt | -3 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 14 min | 3:17 pm PDT (22:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 15 h 34 min | 3:37 pm PDT (22:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 33 kt | +29 kt | -11 °C | 91 kt | 15 h 54 min | 3:57 pm PDT (22:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -22 °C | 83 kt | 17 h 26 min | 5:29 pm PDT (00:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 49 kt | +45 kt | -31 °C | 75 kt | 19 h 18 min | 7:21 pm PDT (02:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 52 kt | +51 kt | -37 °C | 69 kt | 20 h 58 min | 9:01 pm PDT (04:01 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 51 kt | +51 kt | -46 °C | 69 kt | 20 h 58 min | 9:01 pm PDT (04:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 49 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 150 nm out; 40 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 250 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° |
| GRI | used from 349 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 549 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 649 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GJT | used from 799 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 998 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| ELY | used from 1148 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BIH | used from 1248 nm out; 101 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| FAT | used from 1398 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 130/16 | 160/20 5° | 190/28 -1° | 210/25 -5° | 220/27 -15° | 230/21 -26° | 220/42 -29° | 220/44 -35° | 220/44 -44° |
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 | no report just now | 742 ft | ||||
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 120 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 869 ft | ||||
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 210 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| TQE Tekamah, NE | 319 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,026 ft | ||||
| OGA Ogallala, NE | 569 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,279 ft | ||||
| GXY Greeley, CO | 709 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,696 ft | ||||
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 729 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,020 ft | ||||
| PUC Price, UT | 988 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 5,957 ft | ||||
| FOM Fillmore, UT | 1078 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,984 ft | ||||
| BIH Bishop, CA | 1378 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,124 ft | ||||
| FAT Fresno, CA | destination | no report just now | 335 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,957 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:31 pm PDT (21:31 UTC)
FAT has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 FAT 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 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, Fresno Yosemite International.