Plan a flight · Sun 10:35 pm CDT (03:35 UTC)

Rochester International to Oakland County International RST → PTK

404 nautical miles (464 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 098°, about 099° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 64-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:47 am EDT (05:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RST is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 11 knots; PTK is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 3 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 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 RST.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A320 at 33,000 ft, 40 nm south, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 335 nm along the route, 40 nm south 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
E295 at 37,000 ft, 18 nm south, 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. 187 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop
A21N at 31,000 ft, 43 nm north, 7:39 pm CDT (00:39 UTC): light turbulence above 31,000 ft, remarks: zob. 335 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOP UA /OV MOP/TM 0039/FL310/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT 310/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOP
Where
over MOP
Time
00:39 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light at 31,000 ft
Remarks
zob
E170 at 21,000 ft, 25 nm south, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 354 nm along the route, 25 nm south 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, 12 nm northeast, 8:35 pm CDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. 374 nm along the route, 12 nm northeast 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
A320 descending, 14 nm north, 9:09 pm CDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. 384 nm along the route, 14 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
C560 at 3,000 ft, 0 nm south, 9:28 pm CDT (02:28 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 6 W/TM 0228/FL030/TP C560/SK BASES 019 TOPS 030 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 west
Time
02:28 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
bases 1,900 ft tops 3,000 ft overcast
C25B at 2,000 ft, 0 nm south, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south 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, 27 nm south, 9:07 pm CDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. At the destination end, 27 nm south 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, 3 nm west, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 3 nm west 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, 27 nm south, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the destination end, 27 nm south 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, 0 nm south, 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the destination end, 0 nm south 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

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 4 forecast points nearest it (LSE, GRB, MKG, CLE). 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	250° at 27 kt	−23 kt		143 kt	2 h 50 min	2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 19 kt	−18 kt		138 kt	2 h 56 min	2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 14 kt	−14 kt	13 °C	134 kt	3 h 01 min	2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 10 kt	−10 kt	9 °C	130 kt	3 h 06 min	2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 9 kt	−9 kt	5 °C	129 kt	3 h 08 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	280° at 12 kt	−12 kt	1 °C	132 kt	3 h 04 min	2:39 am EDT (06:39 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	−17 kt	-4 °C	137 kt	2 h 57 min	2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	−22 kt	-8 °C	142 kt	2 h 51 min	2:26 am EDT (06:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 24 kt	−24 kt	-9 °C	144 kt	2 h 48 min	2:23 am EDT (06:23 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 28 kt	−28 kt	-20 °C	148 kt	2 h 44 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 38 kt	−37 kt	-35 °C	157 kt	2 h 34 min	2:09 am EDT (06:09 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 47 kt	−45 kt	-45 °C	165 kt	2 h 27 min	2:02 am EDT (06:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 65 kt	−64 kt	-53 °C	184 kt	2 h 12 min	1:47 am EDT (05:47 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
LSE	used from 0 nm out; 30 nm from the line	230/40	240/24 17°	240/13 10°	250/13 6°	280/22 -9°	250/28 -21°	250/41 -34°	260/42 -44°	270/62 -53°
GRB	used from 148 nm out; 64 nm from the line	250/36	270/23 16°	270/14 9°	240/18 4°	280/26 -9°	280/29 -20°	290/42 -36°	290/51 -45°	290/72 -55°
MKG	used from 197 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°
CLE	used from 394 nm out; 107 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°

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
RST Rochester, MN	departure	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC)
FKA Preston, MN	20 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots, gusting to 12	10+ mi	none	1,276 ft	03:15 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	49 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	02:53 UTC
DLL Baraboo, WI	118 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	980 ft	03:15 UTC
MWC Milwaukee, WI	197 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	744 ft	03:15 UTC
MKG Muskegon, MI	276 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	02:55 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	315 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	793 ft	02:53 UTC
LAN Lansing, MI	354 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	860 ft	02:53 UTC
FNT Flint, MI	384 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	782 ft	02:53 UTC
PTK Pontiac, MI	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	5 mi	500 ft	980 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PTK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:47 am EDT (05:47 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for PTK

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 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 southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

The forecast for RST, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 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 RST 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC), at PTK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PTK 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: Rochester International, Oakland County International.