Chicago/Rockford International to Palm Springs International RFD → PSP
1,383 nautical miles (1,592 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 258°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 26-knot headwind), arriving about 5:44 pm PDT (00:44 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots; PSP is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 1 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 2W: 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 607 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 696 to 1154 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 726 to 935 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 786 to 1045 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 438 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1015 to 1234 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1114 to 1164 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 37,000 ft, 22 nm north, 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. 786 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 55 nm west (280°) of PUB
- Time
- 07:42 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
- GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 7 nm north, 2:47 am CDT (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 826 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 46 nm east (105°) of HBU
- Time
- 07:47 UTC
- Height
- at 47,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF6
- Remarks
- moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
- BE20 at 9,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 915 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0752/FL090/TP BE20/SK BASE110 TOP165/TA M05/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM DURD. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- over DRO
- Time
- 07:52 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- BASE110 TOP165
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Icing
- light to moderate rime
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 12 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, BLH, ONT). 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 | 240° at 31 kt | +31 kt | 23 °C | 89 kt | 15 h 32 min | 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | +27 kt | 16 °C | 93 kt | 14 h 52 min | 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 10 °C | 94 kt | 14 h 43 min | 5:44 pm PDT (00:44 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 6 °C | 93 kt | 14 h 52 min | 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +30 kt | 2 °C | 90 kt | 15 h 22 min | 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -2 °C | 87 kt | 15 h 54 min | 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | +37 kt | -6 °C | 83 kt | 16 h 40 min | 7:41 pm PDT (02:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 41 kt | +40 kt | -9 °C | 80 kt | 17 h 17 min | 8:18 pm PDT (03:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 52 kt | +51 kt | -21 °C | 69 kt | 20 h 03 min | 11:04 pm PDT (06:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 65 kt | +66 kt | -31 °C | 54 kt | 25 h 37 min | 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | +73 kt | -36 °C | 47 kt | 29 h 26 min | 8:27 am PDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 68 kt | +70 kt | -47 °C | 50 kt | 27 h 40 min | 6:41 am PDT (13:41 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 51 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| DSM | used from 149 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| OMA | used from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| GRI | used from 348 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| GLD | used from 497 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 647 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 796 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 895 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 1045 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1094 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1244 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| ONT | used from 1343 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
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 | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 119 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 209 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 24,000 ft | 957 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 358 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| NRN Norton, KS | 507 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,384 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| GLD Goodland, KS | 597 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,657 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 746 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,729 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 945 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,917 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| GCN Grand Canyon, AZ | 1134 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 6,608 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1264 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 8,000 ft | 707 ft | 09:50 UTC |
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:44 pm PDT (00:44 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PSP
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 1264 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at PSP 6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:39 pm PDT (01:39 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, Palm Springs International.