Plan a flight · Sun 10:09 pm CDT (03:09 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Piedmont Triad International RFD → GSO

561 nautical miles (646 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 128°, about 131° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:28 am EDT (06:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots; GSO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 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: 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 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 305 to 502 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 384 to 532 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 98 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 RFD.

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

A321 at 32,000 ft, 24 nm southwest, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the departure end, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
B39M at 35,000 ft, 10 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 79 nm along the route, 10 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
CRJ9 descending, 33 nm northeast, 8:15 pm CDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 256 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
CRJ9 climbing, 46 nm northeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 414 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 453 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
E145 at 4,000 ft, 50 nm northeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 502 nm along the route, 50 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
C52C at 12,500 ft, 21 nm northeast, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 502 nm along the route, 21 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none

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, IND, CVG, CRW, TRI, ROA, RDU). 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 18 kt	−18 kt		138 kt	4 h 04 min	3:13 am EDT (07:13 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	−21 kt	11 °C	141 kt	3 h 59 min	3:08 am EDT (07:08 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 21 kt	−21 kt	11 °C	141 kt	3 h 59 min	3:08 am EDT (07:08 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	−19 kt	8 °C	139 kt	4 h 02 min	3:11 am EDT (07:11 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−17 kt	4 °C	137 kt	4 h 06 min	3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−19 kt	0 °C	139 kt	4 h 02 min	3:11 am EDT (07:11 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 22 kt	−22 kt	-3 °C	142 kt	3 h 57 min	3:06 am EDT (07:06 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 25 kt	−25 kt	-6 °C	145 kt	3 h 52 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-7 °C	146 kt	3 h 51 min	3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 32 kt	−32 kt	-20 °C	152 kt	3 h 41 min	2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 38 kt	−37 kt	-34 °C	157 kt	3 h 34 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 49 kt	−49 kt	-41 °C	169 kt	3 h 19 min	2:28 am EDT (06:28 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 48 kt	−48 kt	-49 °C	168 kt	3 h 20 min	2:29 am EDT (06:29 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; 34 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; 42 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°
CVG	used from 246 nm out; 20 nm from the line	320/18	350/32 16°	350/35 10°	350/30 3°	330/30 -7°	340/44 -20°	340/58 -35°	330/72 -41°	320/36 -49°
CRW	used from 345 nm out; 62 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
TRI	used from 443 nm out; 65 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°
ROA	used from 492 nm out; 53 nm from the line	310/29	330/31 13°	340/28 7°	330/25 3°	310/32 -8°	300/32 -22°	290/32 -31°	270/35 -38°	270/32 -47°
RDU	used from 542 nm out; 66 nm from the line	280/33	300/23 11°	300/28 8°	290/28 4°	260/41 -6°	240/52 -18°	230/66 -31°	230/76 -39°	240/52 -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: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	39 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	712 ft	02:52 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	59 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	02:55 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	158 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	02:55 UTC
AID Anderson, IN	197 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist	calm	2 mi	none	919 ft	02:55 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	276 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	896 ft	02:52 UTC
LUK Cincinnati, OH	286 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,900 ft	481 ft	02:53 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	374 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist	from the west (280°) at 5 knots	2.5 mi	700 ft	828 ft	02:51 UTC
EBD Williamson, WV	423 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	no report just now				1,883 ft
HLX Galax Hillsville, VA	502 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	1,100 ft	2,693 ft	02:35 UTC
MWK Mount Airy, NC	522 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,200 feet	variable at 1 knots	10+ mi	3,200 ft	1,268 ft	02:55 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	925 ft	10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,693 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:28 am EDT (06:28 UTC)

Wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for GSO

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 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 14 nm from the route, 276 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at GSO 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GSO is before sunrise there (7:23 am EDT (11:23 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, Piedmont Triad International.