Plan a flight · Sun 10:06 pm EDT (02:06 UTC)

Southwest Florida International to Chicago/Rockford International RSW → RFD

1,007 nautical miles (1,159 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 341°, about 345° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RSW is VFR, wind calm; RFD 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: 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 329 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 538 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 578 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

CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 20 nm west, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 439 nm along the route, 20 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
Time
02:00 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
MD11 at 35,000 ft, 9 nm west, 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC): no turbulence. 60 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ080015/TM 2318/FL350/TP MD11/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
15 nm east (080°) of SRQ
Time
23:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
MD11
Turbulence
none
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 22 nm east, 7:38 pm EDT (23:38 UTC): light rime icing, -8 °C. 140 nm along the route, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF180020/TM 2338/FL200/TP PC12/TA M08/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
20 nm south (180°) of OCF
Time
23:38 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−8 °C
Icing
light rime
B738 at 36,000 ft, 29 nm east, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 160 nm along the route, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF/TM 0023/FL360/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
over OCF
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
E170 at 32,000 ft, 15 nm west, 8:07 pm EDT (00:07 UTC): light turbulence. 219 nm along the route, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CTY UA /OV CTY320030/TM 0007/FL320/TP E170/TB CONS LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through CTY
Where
30 nm northwest (320°) of CTY
Time
00:07 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light
B39M at 35,000 ft, 37 nm west, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): no turbulence. 249 nm along the route, 37 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH120020/TM 2351/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
20 nm southeast (120°) of TLH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
B747 at 33,000 ft, 44 nm west, 9:02 pm EDT (01:02 UTC): no turbulence. 289 nm along the route, 44 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH360025/TM 0102/FL330/TP B747/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
25 nm north (360°) of TLH
Time
01:02 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B747
Turbulence
none
E170 at 33,000 ft, 27 nm southwest, 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 469 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
45 nm west (280°) of ATL
Time
01:53 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
B712 at 3,000 ft, 7 nm east, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 538 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
5 nm south (180°) of CHA
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
SCT030-TOP032 C
B77W at 31,000 ft, 49 nm southwest, 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 658 nm along the route, 49 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B739 at 34,000 ft, 16 nm west, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 668 nm along the route, 16 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of BWG
Time
01:51 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 25,000 ft, 12 nm northeast, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 668 nm along the route, 12 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
A21N at 17,000 ft, 46 nm northeast, 9:28 pm EDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 778 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
45 nm south (183°) of IND
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
clear
Icing
none
Remarks
clear since departing KIND southbound
B38M at 23,700 ft, 3 nm northwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 798 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light

2 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, ATL, BNA, EVV, 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 18 kt	+16 kt		104 kt	9 h 41 min	6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	+23 kt	15 °C	97 kt	10 h 23 min	7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	+25 kt	12 °C	95 kt	10 h 36 min	7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	+26 kt	8 °C	94 kt	10 h 43 min	7:49 am CDT (12:49 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 28 kt	+26 kt	5 °C	94 kt	10 h 43 min	7:49 am CDT (12:49 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	10 h 23 min	7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 25 kt	+21 kt	-4 °C	99 kt	10 h 10 min	7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 24 kt	+19 kt	-7 °C	101 kt	9 h 58 min	7:04 am CDT (12:04 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 26 kt	+20 kt	-18 °C	100 kt	10 h 04 min	7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 30 kt	+22 kt	-34 °C	98 kt	10 h 17 min	7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 28 kt	+17 kt	-41 °C	103 kt	9 h 47 min	6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 22 kt	+12 kt	-50 °C	108 kt	9 h 19 min	6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	310/7	270/12 17°	270/14 13°	260/14 8°	240/22 -5°	230/24 -16°	220/26 -31°	200/31 -41°	180/33 -53°
TLH	used from 199 nm out; 64 nm from the line	300/17	340/32 17°	320/27 13°	300/27 8°	280/23 -7°	250/37 -17°	230/44 -33°	220/53 -41°	220/48 -51°
CSG	used from 299 nm out; 78 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
ATL	used from 399 nm out; 28 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
BNA	used from 548 nm out; 65 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
EVV	used from 698 nm out; 40 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
IND	used from 798 nm out; 61 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
JOT	used from 897 nm out; 38 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -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
RSW Fort Myers, FL	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	29 ft	9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC)
PGD Punta Gorda, FL	30 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	25 ft	01:53 UTC
BKV Brooksville, FL	120 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	76 ft	01:53 UTC
VLD Valdosta, GA	269 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	203 ft	01:53 UTC
ABY Albany, GA	329 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	196 ft	22:53 UTC
FTY Atlanta, GA	459 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	841 ft	01:53 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	538 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	682 ft	01:53 UTC
BWG Bowling Green, KY	668 nm out, 6 nm west of the line	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	5 mi	none	547 ft	01:53 UTC
OWB Owensboro, KY	728 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	407 ft	01:56 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	828 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	589 ft	01:53 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	977 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	01:52 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 841 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

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

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 20 nm from the route, 369 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 459 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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: Southwest Florida International, Chicago/Rockford International.