South Bend International to Fort Worth Meacham International SBN → FTW
749 nautical miles (862 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 233° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC). Right now SBN is marginal VFR, wind calm; FTW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 10 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: 4 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 first 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 540 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 SBN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 46 nm southeast, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. At the departure end, 46 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 7 nm north, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 110 nm along the route, 7 nm north 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 7 forecast points nearest it (JOT, SPI, STL, COU, SGF, FSM, DAL). 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 | 230° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 96 kt | 7 h 48 min | 8:51 am CDT (13:51 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +21 kt | 15 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 34 min | 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 25 min | 8:28 am CDT (13:28 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 12 min | 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 6 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 04 min | 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 1 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 08 min | 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +16 kt | -3 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 12 min | 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 20 kt | +17 kt | -6 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 16 min | 8:19 am CDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -17 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 34 min | 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 35 kt | +20 kt | -31 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 29 min | 8:32 am CDT (13:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 45 kt | +23 kt | -41 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 43 min | 8:46 am CDT (13:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 48 kt | +17 kt | -51 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 16 min | 8:19 am CDT (13:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 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° |
| SPI | used from 100 nm out; 67 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° |
| STL | used from 200 nm out; 32 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° |
| COU | used from 300 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| SGF | used from 350 nm out; 59 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° |
| FSM | used from 450 nm out; 63 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° |
| DAL | used from 649 nm out; 60 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBN South Bend, IN | departure | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 798 ft | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) |
| PPO La Porte, IN | 20 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured Weather: fog | from the east-southeast (120°) at 2 knots | 0.25 mi | none | 812 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 130 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 160 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| SUS St Louis, MO | 270 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 463 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 360 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| AOV Ava, MO | 410 nm out, 0 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,311 ft | ||||
| BBG Branson, MO | 450 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,302 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 540 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DUA Durant, OK | 669 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 699 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| DTO Denton, TX | 729 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 642 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| FTW Fort Worth, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 710 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,311 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC)
Wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for FTW
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for SBN, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at FTW 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 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: South Bend International, Fort Worth Meacham International.