Chicago/Rockford International to San Antonio International RFD → SAT
885 nautical miles (1,019 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 214°, about 217° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; SAT is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 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: 336 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (JOT, BRL, COU, SGF, FSM, DAL, CLL, SAT). 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 | 200° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 103 kt | 8 h 36 min | 5:23 am CDT (10:23 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 15 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 41 min | 5:28 am CDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 8 h 46 min | 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 9 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 41 min | 5:28 am CDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 6 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 26 min | 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 2 °C | 107 kt | 8 h 16 min | 5:03 am CDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +12 kt | -3 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 12 min | 4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 18 kt | +11 kt | -6 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 07 min | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 19 kt | +9 kt | -16 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 58 min | 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | +4 kt | -31 °C | 116 kt | 7 h 38 min | 4:25 am CDT (09:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 37 kt | +2 kt | -41 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 30 min | 4:17 am CDT (09:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 45 kt | −2 kt | -52 °C | 122 kt | 7 h 15 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 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; 59 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° |
| BRL | used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| COU | used from 199 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| SGF | used from 298 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 210/21 | 210/21 16° | 240/28 12° | 260/24 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/26 -18° | 290/38 -31° | 290/37 -41° | 300/49 -52° |
| FSM | used from 398 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 200/18 | 210/19 15° | 230/22 13° | 250/18 7° | 270/20 -5° | 280/24 -16° | 280/35 -30° | 290/37 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| DAL | used from 597 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -52° |
| CLL | used from 746 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| SAT | used from 796 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 130/22 | 140/24 18° | 170/19 13° | 190/13 7° | 240/15 -4° | 220/14 -13° | 270/11 -28° | 280/10 -40° | 310/18 -51° |
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) |
| EZI Kewanee, IL | 70 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| MQB Macomb, IL | 119 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 705 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 259 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| AIZ Kaiser/Lake Ozark, MO | 288 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| FYV Fayetteville, AR | 438 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,252 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 477 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HHW Hugo, OK | 577 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 572 ft | 01:30 UTC |
| HQZ Mesquite, TX | 666 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 446 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| ACT Waco, TX | 746 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 516 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| GTU Georgetown, TX | 806 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 789 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| SAT San Antonio, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 809 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,252 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAT
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, 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
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 229 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 21 nm from the route, 666 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 7 nm from the route, 766 nm along the route · security · ZFW
- 6/5849 Austin, TX, Friday, October 2, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, 825 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZHU
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SAT 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAT is before sunrise there (7:33 am CDT (12:33 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, San Antonio International.