Plan a flight · Sun 10:05 pm CDT (03:05 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Willow Run Airport RFD → YIP

247 nautical miles (285 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 088°, about 091° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots; YIP is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 11 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 10 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

A320 at 33,000 ft, 3 nm northwest, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 178 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest 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
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
B39M at 35,000 ft, 44 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 69 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
E170 at 21,000 ft, 12 nm north, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 198 nm along the route, 12 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, 42 nm north, 8:35 pm CDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. 228 nm along the route, 42 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, 39 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. At the destination end, 39 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, 43 nm north, 9:09 pm CDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. At the destination end, 43 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, 39 nm south, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 39 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
A320 climbing, 39 nm south, 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
00:14 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A320
Sky
B025 overcast T040
C25B at 2,000 ft, 26 nm north, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 26 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
CRJ7 at 600 ft, 8 nm east, 9:07 pm CDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east 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
SR22 at 1,300 ft, 25 nm north, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 25 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
CRJ7 descending, 8 nm east, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east 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
C550 at 2,300 ft, 26 nm north, 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the destination end, 26 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

2 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 3 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG, FWA). 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	270° at 20 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	1 h 46 min	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
5,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	−18 kt		138 kt	1 h 47 min	12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−15 kt	12 °C	135 kt	1 h 50 min	12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC)
9,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−11 kt	9 °C	131 kt	1 h 53 min	12:58 am EDT (04:58 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 7 kt	−7 kt	4 °C	127 kt	1 h 57 min	1:02 am EDT (05:02 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−10 kt	0 °C	130 kt	1 h 54 min	12:59 am EDT (04:59 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	−15 kt	-3 °C	135 kt	1 h 50 min	12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	−20 kt	-7 °C	140 kt	1 h 46 min	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 24 kt	−22 kt	-8 °C	142 kt	1 h 44 min	12:49 am EDT (04:49 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 31 kt	−27 kt	-20 °C	147 kt	1 h 41 min	12:46 am EDT (04:46 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 40 kt	−27 kt	-35 °C	147 kt	1 h 41 min	12:46 am EDT (04:46 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 55 kt	−41 kt	-44 °C	161 kt	1 h 32 min	12:37 am EDT (04:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 66 kt	−50 kt	-52 °C	170 kt	1 h 27 min	12:32 am EDT (04:32 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; 45 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; 55 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 198 nm out; 91 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°

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)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	40 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	02:52 UTC
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	49 nm out, 8 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	119 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	IFR Weather: mist	calm	2 mi	none	649 ft	02:59 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	158 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	8 mi	none	873 ft	02:53 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	168 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	9 mi	none	951 ft	02:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	208 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,000 ft	1,000 ft	02:56 UTC
YIP Detroit, MI	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,600 ft	715 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At YIP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for YIP

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at YIP is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Willow Run Airport.