South Bend International to Jacksonville International SBN → JAX
709 nautical miles (816 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 160°, about 165° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (11,500 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:03 am EDT (07:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SBN is VFR, wind calm; JAX is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 3 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: 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 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 250 to 340 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 290 to 470 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 400 to 470 nm out.
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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 (FWA, IND, CVG, LOU, TYS, GSP, ATL, SAV, JAX). 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 | 300° at 15 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 5 h 22 min | 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 5 h 06 min | 3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 11 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 02 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −22 kt | 9 °C | 142 kt | 5 h | 3:08 am EDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | −24 kt | 6 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 55 min | 3:03 am EDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −24 kt | 2 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 55 min | 3:03 am EDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | −23 kt | -2 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 57 min | 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 02 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 27 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 02 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 29 kt | −20 kt | -19 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 04 min | 3:12 am EDT (07:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 29 kt | −15 kt | -34 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 15 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 29 kt | −9 kt | -40 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 30 min | 3:38 am EDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 29 kt | −8 kt | -49 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 32 min | 3:40 am EDT (07:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA | used from 0 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| IND | used from 100 nm out; 41 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° |
| CVG | used from 150 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 350/13 | 340/20 13° | 340/22 8° | 350/30 3° | 340/30 -9° | 340/38 -21° | 330/37 -35° | 320/38 -40° | 310/35 -47° |
| LOU | used from 200 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| TYS | used from 300 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| GSP | used from 450 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| ATL | used from 500 nm out; 84 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° |
| SAV | used from 550 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 260/18 | 290/26 13° | 270/33 12° | 260/40 9° | 240/47 -5° | 230/53 -16° | 220/61 -31° | 210/64 -41° | 210/64 -52° |
| JAX | used from 650 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 280/14 | 300/22 16° | 260/27 15° | 260/26 9° | 240/41 -6° | 230/38 -16° | 220/44 -32° | 200/49 -41° | 200/52 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBN South Bend, IN | departure | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 798 ft | 9:54 pm EDT (01:54 UTC) |
| GUS Peru, IN | 60 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| AID Anderson, IN | 100 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 919 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 180 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 230 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| BYL Williamsburg, KY | 310 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 700 feet Weather: fog | variable at 3 knots | 0.5 mi | 700 ft | 1,177 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 370 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 986 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 490 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 01:51 UTC |
| IIY Washington, GA | 500 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 646 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| VDI Vidalia, GA | 600 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 274 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| JES Jesup, GA | 650 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 107 ft | 22:20 UTC |
| JAX Jacksonville, FL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,177 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:03 am EDT (07:03 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for JAX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for SBN, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 180 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at JAX 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at JAX is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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, Jacksonville International.