Chicago/Rockford International to New York Stewart International RFD → SWF
671 nautical miles (772 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 089°, about 092° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 41-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:41 am EDT (07:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots; SWF is marginal VFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14. 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 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 553 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 266 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 444 to 641 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 13,000 ft. Over the last 89 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
- urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 28 nm north, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 395 nm along the route, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
- Report
- an urgent report filed through DKK
- Where
- 40 nm west (280°) of DKK
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- no inj/dmg zob
- A320 at 33,000 ft, 5 nm north, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 178 nm along the route, 5 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
- B38M at 6,000 ft, 49 nm south, 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
EWR UA /OV 2 NW OF EWR/TM 0047/FL60/TP B38M/TB MODERATE
- Report
- a routine report filed through EWR
- Where
- 2 northwest of ewr
- Time
- 00:47 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate
- 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
- E170 at 21,000 ft, 16 nm north, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 197 nm along the route, 16 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
- A320 descending, 46 nm north, 8:35 pm CDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. 227 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FNT UA /OV FNT270008/TM 0135/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC019 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY09 FNT
- Report
- a routine report filed through FNT
- Where
- 8 nm west (270°) of FNT
- Time
- 01:35 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 3,000 ft
- Remarks
- on final runway 09 fnt
- PA44 descending, 35 nm south, 9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. 237 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over TOL
- Time
- 02:27 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- PA44
- Sky
- BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
- Weather
- fog
- A320 descending, 48 nm north, 9:09 pm CDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. 237 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 0209/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY18 FNT
- Report
- a routine report filed through FNT
- Where
- over FNT
- Time
- 02:09 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,000 ft
- Remarks
- on final runway 18 fnt
- C525 descending, 35 nm south, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 237 nm along the route, 35 nm south 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
- C25B at 2,000 ft, 30 nm north, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 247 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV 2 W/TM 0218/FL020/TP C25B/SK BASES 020 OVC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 2 west
- Time
- 02:18 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C25B
- Sky
- bases 2,000 ft overcast
- SR22 at 1,300 ft, 30 nm north, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 247 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 3 nm west (270°) of PTK
- Time
- 01:25 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Sky
- bases 1,900 ft overcast
- C550 at 2,300 ft, 30 nm north, 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. 247 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 4W
- Time
- 00:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,300 ft
- Aircraft
- C550
- Remarks
- fis 4 mile final
- CRJ7 at 600 ft, 3 nm north, 9:07 pm CDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. 257 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 02:07 UTC
- Height
- at the surface
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,500 ft
- CRJ7 descending, 3 nm north, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. 257 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- final 3R
- Time
- 01:01 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 2,800 ft
7 more routine reports are on the map.
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, MKG, FWA, CLE, BUF, PSB, AVP). 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 | 290° at 9 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 5 h 12 min | 4:43 am EDT (08:43 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 11 kt | −7 kt | 13 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 17 min | 4:48 am EDT (08:48 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | −8 kt | 11 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 15 min | 4:46 am EDT (08:46 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 12 kt | −9 kt | 7 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 12 min | 4:43 am EDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 10 kt | −8 kt | 4 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 15 min | 4:46 am EDT (08:46 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | −10 kt | 0 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 10 min | 4:41 am EDT (08:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -4 °C | 134 kt | 5 h | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −17 kt | -9 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 54 min | 4:25 am EDT (08:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 21 kt | −18 kt | -10 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 52 min | 4:23 am EDT (08:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 27 kt | −23 kt | -21 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 42 min | 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 35 kt | −28 kt | -36 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 32 min | 4:03 am EDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 42 kt | −37 kt | -43 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 16 min | 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 47 kt | −41 kt | -50 °C | 161 kt | 4 h 10 min | 3:41 am EDT (07:41 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; 44 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° |
| MKG | used from 99 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| FWA | used from 197 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CLE | used from 247 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| BUF | used from 395 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| PSB | used from 493 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| AVP | used from 543 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -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) |
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | 49 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| BEH Benton Harbor, MI | 118 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | none | 649 ft | 03:20 UTC |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 158 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 873 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| DTW Detroit, MI | 257 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 645 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| CYQG Windsor, | 276 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | variable at 2 knots | 2.5 mi | 400 ft | 622 ft | 03:24 UTC |
| ERI Erie, PA | 395 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| BFD Bradford, PA | 464 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 2,143 ft | 03:01 UTC |
| ELZ Wellsville, NY | 493 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,124 ft | 03:05 UTC |
| AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA | 602 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 961 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| MSV Monticello, NY | 641 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (080°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 1,403 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| SWF New York, NY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14 | 3 mi | 1,500 ft | 490 ft | 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,143 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SWF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:41 am EDT (07:41 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a few clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet and more above IFR
The whole forecast for SWF
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a few clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet and more above
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 375 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 375 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SWF 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SWF is before sunrise there (7:04 am EDT (11:04 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, New York Stewart International.
