San Antonio International to Gerald R Ford International SAT → GRR
1,015 nautical miles (1,168 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 034°, about 030° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 22-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC). Right now GRR is IFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 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: 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 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 119 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 SAT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 9 forecast points nearest it (SAT, CLL, DAL, FSM, SGF, STL, SPI, JOT, MKG). 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 | 220° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 142 kt | 7 h 09 min | 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 7 h 18 min | 10:05 am EDT (14:05 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 14 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:12 am EDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 7 h 31 min | 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 7 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 38 min | 10:25 am EDT (14:25 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −13 kt | 3 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 38 min | 10:25 am EDT (14:25 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -1 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 34 min | 10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | −14 kt | -5 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 34 min | 10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 19 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 7 h 31 min | 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 24 kt | −17 kt | -17 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:12 am EDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 33 kt | −12 kt | -31 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 41 min | 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 41 kt | −14 kt | -41 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 34 min | 10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 45 kt | −8 kt | -51 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 56 min | 10:43 am EDT (14:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 150/26 | 180/18 19° | 180/18 14° | 200/14 9° | 230/16 -6° | 210/9 -13° | 270/8 -29° | 280/6 -39° | 340/19 -51° |
| CLL | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
| DAL | used from 149 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
| FSM | used from 299 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| SGF | used from 498 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| STL | used from 597 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| SPI | used from 746 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| JOT | used from 796 nm out; 65 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 945 nm out; 51 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT San Antonio, TX | departure | no report just now | 809 ft | ||||
| GTU Georgetown, TX | 80 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 19,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 19,000 ft | 789 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CNW Waco, TX | 149 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 470 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| GVT Greenville, TX | 249 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 534 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MEZ Mena, AR | 368 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,079 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| FLP Flippin, AR | 498 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 719 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| BPK Mountain Home, AR | 508 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 928 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 697 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 776 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 906 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 935 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 798 ft | 06:09 UTC |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | destination | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 793 ft | 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,079 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GRR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for GRR
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 19 nm from the route, 119 nm along the route · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at SAT 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC), at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 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: San Antonio International, Gerald R Ford International.