Chicago/Rockford International to Syracuse Hancock International RFD → SYR
576 nautical miles (662 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 080°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; SYR is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 4 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 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 457 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 0 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
- A333 descending, 35 nm south, 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 258 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B739 descending, 35 nm south, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 258 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft
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 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG, CLE, BUF, SYR). 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 | 280° at 12 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 4 h 22 min | 7:48 am EDT (11:48 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 4 h 32 min | 7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 11 kt | −6 kt | 10 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 34 min | 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 10 kt | −5 kt | 7 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 36 min | 8:02 am EDT (12:02 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 9 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 34 min | 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 13 kt | −8 kt | 0 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 30 min | 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −11 kt | -5 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 24 min | 7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −14 kt | -9 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 18 min | 7:44 am EDT (11:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 22 kt | −15 kt | -10 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 16 min | 7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | −21 kt | -21 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 05 min | 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 37 kt | −21 kt | -37 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 05 min | 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 44 kt | −32 kt | -44 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 47 min | 7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 51 kt | −40 kt | -51 °C | 160 kt | 3 h 36 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 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; 48 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; 39 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° |
| CLE | used from 248 nm out; 98 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 347 nm out; 88 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° |
| SYR | used from 496 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC) |
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | 50 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 60 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 159 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | none | 793 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 199 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 860 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | 248 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 980 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| PHN Port Huron, MI | 298 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 650 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 357 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| IAG Niagara Falls, NY | 447 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 2,800 ft | 592 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| ROC Rochester, NY | 506 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 4,300 ft | 558 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| SDC Williamson/Sodus, NY | 536 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | calm | 7 mi | 300 ft | 424 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| SYR Syracuse, NY | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 421 ft | 3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 980 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SYR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for SYR
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 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 SYR 6:27 pm EDT (22:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SYR 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
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, Syracuse Hancock International.