The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 8:48 pm CDT (01:48 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Harrisburg International RFD → MDT

570 nautical miles (655 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 098°, about 101° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:26 am EDT (05:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; MDT is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 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: 262 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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

  • SIGMET 2E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 10 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120055
    MKCE WST 120055
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2E
    VALID UNTIL 0255Z
    CT NY NJ PA DE MD AND NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS
    FROM 30NE SAX-30SSW HTO-30ESE EMI-50WSW HAR-30NE SAX
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22020KT. TOPS TO FL310.
  • 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 340 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 170 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 420 to 550 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

  • A320 at 33,000 ft, 34 nm north, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 170 nm along the route, 34 nm north 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
  • A321 at 30,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: zob. 460 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    2G9 UA /OV IHD/TM 2349/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD 300/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through 2G9
    Where
    over IHD
    Time
    23:49 UTC
    Height
    at 30,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A321
    Turbulence
    moderate at 30,000 ft
    Remarks
    zob
  • E145 at 12,000 ft, 22 nm east, 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 22 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LNS UA /OV LRP/TM 0043/FL120/TP E145/TB CONS MOD
    Report
    a routine report filed through LNS
    Where
    over LRP
    Time
    00:43 UTC
    Height
    at 12,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
    Turbulence
    continuous moderate
  • B39M at 35,000 ft, 31 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 70 nm along the route, 31 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, 11 nm north, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 90 nm along the route, 11 nm north 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, 28 nm north, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 160 nm along the route, 28 nm north 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, 34 nm north, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 170 nm along the route, 34 nm north 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
  • E145 at 2,600 ft, 44 nm south, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 190 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
    Report
    a routine report filed through FWA
    Where
    over FWA
    Time
    23:05 UTC
    Height
    at 2,600 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
    Sky
    B026
  • E170 at 21,000 ft, 49 nm north, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 200 nm along the route, 49 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAN
    Where
    20 nm south (180°) of LAN
    Time
    01:07 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Turbulence
    lght chop
    Remarks
    during the climb zob
  • UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 4 nm west, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 200 nm along the route, 4 nm west 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
  • C525 descending, 5 nm north, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 240 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    01:41 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    C525
    Sky
    TOPS035 BKN010
    Weather
    2SM
  • A320 climbing, 5 nm north, 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. 240 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    00:14 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    B025 overcast T040
  • E55P descending, 45 nm north, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 240 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
    Report
    a routine report filed through YIP
    Where
    over KYIP
    Time
    23:00 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    E55P
    Sky
    B015
  • A320 descending, 5 nm north, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. 240 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    23:00 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
    Wind
    wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft

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 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, FWA, CLE, AGC, PSB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft320° at 5 kt−4 kt124 kt4 h 36 min2:24 am EDT (06:24 UTC)
5,500 ft320° at 11 kt−9 kt13 °C129 kt4 h 25 min2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)
7,500 ft320° at 12 kt−9 kt11 °C129 kt4 h 25 min2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)
9,500 ft320° at 11 kt−8 kt8 °C128 kt4 h 27 min2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC)
11,500 ft330° at 11 kt−7 kt4 °C127 kt4 h 29 min2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)
13,500 ft320° at 12 kt−8 kt0 °C128 kt4 h 27 min2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC)
15,500 ft310° at 12 kt−10 kt-5 °C130 kt4 h 23 min2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)
17,500 ft300° at 13 kt−12 kt-9 °C132 kt4 h 19 min2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180300° at 14 kt−12 kt-10 °C132 kt4 h 19 min2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240310° at 16 kt−13 kt-22 °C133 kt4 h 17 min2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300280° at 29 kt−27 kt-35 °C147 kt3 h 53 min1:41 am EDT (05:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340270° at 33 kt−31 kt-42 °C151 kt3 h 46 min1:34 am EDT (05:34 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390280° at 38 kt−37 kt-49 °C157 kt3 h 38 min1:26 am EDT (05:26 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
JOTused from 0 nm out; 40 nm from the line230/11290/12 16°300/19 10°320/19 4°300/17 -9°330/31 -20°320/49 -37°320/53 -45°320/67 -49°
FWAused from 100 nm out; 74 nm from the line350/9350/24 15°360/25 9°360/29 4°350/31 -10°340/39 -22°330/40 -37°320/38 -43°320/48 -48°
CLEused from 250 nm out; 54 nm from the line340/5320/13 14°300/12 8°310/10 2°310/14 -10°340/14 -23°320/27 -35°260/28 -40°250/36 -48°
AGCused from 400 nm out; 29 nm from the line140/12350/10 12°L/V 9°L/V 3°200/11 -11°220/21 -22°220/47 -33°230/51 -39°230/45 -48°
PSBused from 450 nm out; 35 nm from the line260/13 13°220/12 8°220/11 4°230/27 -11°210/31 -21°220/73 -32°220/75 -40°230/66 -50°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
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 50 nm out, 5 nm northeast 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
MDW Chicago, IL 60 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 619 ft 00:53 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN 140 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower marginal VFR Weather: mist calm 4 mi none 777 ft 23:35 UTC
ANQ Angola, IN 180 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line reported, no category calm 10+ mi none 995 ft 23:35 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH 240 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 1,100 ft 683 ft 01:22 UTC
CLE Cleveland, OH 330 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 2,100 ft 799 ft 00:51 UTC
CAK Akron, OH 350 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet from the north (010°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 700 ft 1,225 ft 00:51 UTC
BVI Beaver Falls, PA 400 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower reported, no category calm none 1,252 ft 19:47 UTC
JST Johnstown, PA 480 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots 0.25 mi 200 ft 2,284 ft 01:42 UTC
RVL Reedsville, PA 520 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots 1.75 mi 1,100 ft 818 ft 23:35 UTC
MDT Harrisburg, PA destination IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 800 ft 310 ft 9:28 pm EDT (01:28 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,284 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MDT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:26 am EDT (05:26 UTC)

Wind from the northeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 800 feet (thunderheads), overcast at 1,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for MDT
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 800 feet (thunderheads), overcast at 1,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 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

  • 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 360 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
  • 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 380 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
  • 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 380 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at MDT 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDT is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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, Harrisburg International.