Southwest Florida International to Appleton International RSW → ATW
1,113 nautical miles (1,281 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 345°, about 349° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 10:56 am CDT (15:56 UTC). Right now RSW is low IFR, wind calm; ATW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 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: 153 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 447 to 487 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 517 to 586 nm out.
- 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 route from 537 to 944 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 547 nm along 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 RSW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 36,000 ft, 42 nm east, 12:28 am EDT (04:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 298 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
AMG UA /OV AMG/TM 0428/FL360/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through AMG
- Where
- over AMG
- Time
- 04:28 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- B738 descending, 42 nm east, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. 567 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Remarks
- multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
- A319 descending, 42 nm east, 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC): remarks: tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft. 567 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0252/FLDURD/TP A319/RM TOPS 068 BASES 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 02:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A319
- Remarks
- tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 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 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 11 forecast points nearest it (PIE, JAX, TLH, CSG, ATL, TYS, LOU, IND, JOT, MKG, GRB). 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 | 310° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 105 kt | 10 h 36 min | 10:56 am CDT (15:56 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 15 °C | 102 kt | 10 h 55 min | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 11 h 01 min | 11:21 am CDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 8 °C | 102 kt | 10 h 55 min | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 42 min | 11:02 am CDT (16:02 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 0 °C | 103 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | +17 kt | -4 °C | 103 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 24 kt | +17 kt | -7 °C | 103 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | +20 kt | -18 °C | 100 kt | 11 h 08 min | 11:28 am CDT (16:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 37 kt | +33 kt | -33 °C | 87 kt | 12 h 48 min | 1:08 pm CDT (18:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 40 kt | +34 kt | -41 °C | 86 kt | 12 h 57 min | 1:17 pm CDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 36 kt | +28 kt | -50 °C | 92 kt | 12 h 06 min | 12:26 pm CDT (17:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIE | used from 0 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -52° |
| JAX | used from 199 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -52° |
| TLH | used from 249 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
| CSG | used from 298 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| ATL | used from 398 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| TYS | used from 497 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| LOU | used from 646 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| IND | used from 795 nm out; 8 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 895 nm out; 52 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 994 nm out; 73 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° |
| GRB | used from 1044 nm out; 56 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSW Fort Myers, FL | departure | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 0.75 mi | 200 ft | 29 ft | 1:13 am EDT (05:13 UTC) |
| PGD Punta Gorda, FL | 30 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 119 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 76 ft | 05:07 UTC |
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 268 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 203 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 378 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| PDK Atlanta, GA | 457 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 998 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CSV Crossville, TN | 586 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,881 ft | 05:07 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 726 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 825 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 944 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 03:50 UTC |
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | 1034 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 728 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| ATW Appleton, WI | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 918 ft | 12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,881 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ATW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:56 am CDT (15:56 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ATW
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for RSW, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 368 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC), at ATW 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 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: Southwest Florida International, Appleton International.