Plan a flight · Mon 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC)

South Bend International to Blue Grass Airport SBN → LEX

234 nautical miles (269 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 160°, about 165° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC). Right now SBN is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots; LEX is low IFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 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: 5 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 185 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 SBN.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

CRJ2 at 5,500 ft, 33 nm east, 5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC): mist. 59 nm along the route, 33 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 0945/FL055/TP CRJ2/WX MIST
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
09:45 UTC
Height
at 5,500 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Weather
shallow st
B38M at 32,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. 78 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MZZ UA /OV MZZ240015/TM 1103/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through MZZ
Where
15 nm southwest (240°) of MZZ
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light
B737 at 100 ft, 15 nm east, 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 176 nm along the route, 15 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
10:24 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
B739 climbing, 14 nm east, 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 176 nm along the route, 14 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 west cvg
Time
10:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
tops 1,100 ft
B763 at 100 ft, 14 nm east, 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 176 nm along the route, 14 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 16 nm east, 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. 205 nm along the route, 16 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
35 nm north (360°) of HYK
Time
11:01 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Remarks
lil dark
E170 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
E170 at 100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm north, 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (FWA, IND, CVG). 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	280° at 19 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	1 h 47 min	8:56 am EDT (12:56 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	1 h 45 min	8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−14 kt	12 °C	134 kt	1 h 45 min	8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−12 kt	8 °C	132 kt	1 h 46 min	8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	−11 kt	4 °C	131 kt	1 h 47 min	8:56 am EDT (12:56 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 19 kt	−12 kt	1 °C	132 kt	1 h 46 min	8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	−15 kt	-2 °C	135 kt	1 h 44 min	8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 25 kt	−17 kt	-6 °C	137 kt	1 h 42 min	8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 26 kt	−18 kt	-7 °C	138 kt	1 h 42 min	8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 33 kt	−18 kt	-19 °C	138 kt	1 h 42 min	8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 32 kt	−20 kt	-34 °C	140 kt	1 h 40 min	8:49 am EDT (12:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 50 kt	−38 kt	-43 °C	158 kt	1 h 29 min	8:38 am EDT (12:38 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 62 kt	−50 kt	-51 °C	170 kt	1 h 23 min	8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
IND	used from 98 nm out; 41 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
CVG	used from 146 nm out; 18 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -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	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots	9 mi	none	798 ft	6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC)
RCR Rochester, IN	39 nm out, 8 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	789 ft	10:55 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	59 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	10:55 UTC
AID Anderson, IN	98 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	919 ft	10:55 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	176 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	0.06 mi	200 ft	896 ft	10:52 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 979 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC)

Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR

At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for LEX

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 176 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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 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: South Bend International, Blue Grass Airport.