Chicago/Rockford International to Salt Lake City International RFD → SLC
1,029 nautical miles (1,185 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 9:47 am MDT (15:47 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; SLC is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 9 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: 158 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 620 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 460 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 610 to 989 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 370 nm of the route.
- 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 720 to 889 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 250 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 230 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 800 to 889 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
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, ONL, BFF, RKS, SLC). 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 | 220° at 27 kt | +17 kt | 20 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 59 min | 9:47 am MDT (15:47 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | +18 kt | 17 °C | 102 kt | 10 h 05 min | 9:53 am MDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 11 min | 9:59 am MDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 8 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 11 min | 9:59 am MDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +19 kt | 4 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 11 min | 9:59 am MDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 24 min | 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +22 kt | -6 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 30 min | 10:18 am MDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -9 °C | 97 kt | 10 h 36 min | 10:24 am MDT (16:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 33 kt | +28 kt | -21 °C | 92 kt | 11 h 11 min | 10:59 am MDT (16:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 43 kt | +37 kt | -32 °C | 83 kt | 12 h 24 min | 12:12 pm MDT (18:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 50 kt | +49 kt | -38 °C | 71 kt | 14 h 30 min | 2:18 pm MDT (20:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 56 kt | +56 kt | -47 °C | 64 kt | 16 h 05 min | 3:53 pm MDT (21:53 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; 48 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; 53 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; 64 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° |
| ONL | used from 350 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 550 nm out; 71 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° | |
| RKS | used from 750 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 949 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° |
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 | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 70 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 150 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| MEY Mapleton, IA | 300 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,116 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 320 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| TIF Thedford, NE | 510 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the east (100°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 2,925 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| AIA Alliance, NE | 610 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,930 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 650 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 790 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 7,014 ft | 05:30 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 889 nm out, 22 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the west (260°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 6,764 ft | 05:39 UTC |
| EVW Evanston, WY | 979 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 7,142 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet, overcast at 16,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 10:54 pm MDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:47 am MDT (15:47 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SLC 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 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, Salt Lake City International.