Southwest Florida International to Chicago Executive RSW → PWK
983 nautical miles (1,131 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 344°, about 348° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC). Right now RSW is low IFR, wind calm; PWK is 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: 2 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 467 to 477 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 526 to 874 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, 546 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 576 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, 48 nm east, 12:28 am EDT (04:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 298 nm along the route, 48 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
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 904 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 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 10 forecast points nearest it (PIE, JAX, TLH, CSG, ATL, TYS, BNA, LOU, IND, JOT). 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 | 320° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 104 kt | 9 h 27 min | 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 15 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 44 min | 10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 12 °C | 99 kt | 9 h 56 min | 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 9 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 50 min | 10:57 am CDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 5 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 38 min | 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 1 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 38 min | 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | +17 kt | -3 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 33 min | 10:40 am CDT (15:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 23 kt | +17 kt | -7 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 33 min | 10:40 am CDT (15:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -18 °C | 99 kt | 9 h 56 min | 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 37 kt | +33 kt | -33 °C | 87 kt | 11 h 18 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 39 kt | +33 kt | -41 °C | 87 kt | 11 h 18 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 32 kt | +26 kt | -50 °C | 94 kt | 10 h 27 min | 11:34 am CDT (16:34 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; 72 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; 70 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 248 nm out; 64 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; 87 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 397 nm out; 27 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 496 nm out; 69 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° |
| BNA | used from 596 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| LOU | used from 645 nm out; 62 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 794 nm out; 22 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 894 nm out; 42 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° |
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 | 1 mi | 200 ft | 29 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
| PGD Punta Gorda, FL | 30 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 119 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | none | 76 ft | 06:00 UTC |
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 268 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 203 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 387 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| PDK Atlanta, GA | 457 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 998 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 536 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| TZV Tompkinsville, KY | 645 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,036 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | 725 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | none | 500 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 794 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | none | 845 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | 963 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,036 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PWK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC)
PWK has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for RSW, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 200 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 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 3 nm from the route, 367 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 PWK 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 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
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, Chicago Executive.