The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 1:11 am EDT (05:11 UTC)

Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Nantucket Memorial SDF → ACK

746 nautical miles (859 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 071°, about 076° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots; ACK is IFR, wind from the east (080°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18. 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 return flight

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

  • SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 288 to 637 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120455
    MKCE WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
    FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
  • SIGMET E18E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 35 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 70 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120455
    MKCE WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18E
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    MA RI CT AND MA RI NY CSTL WTRS
    FROM 40E BOS-130SE ACK-170S ACK-50SE HTO-20NW PVD-40E BOS
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • 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 whole route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 418 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 338 to 657 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 99 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 50 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 SDF.

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 10 forecast points nearest it (LOU, CVG, CRW, EKN, AGC, PSB, AVP, JFK, BDL, ACK). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft290° at 11 kt−8 kt128 kt5 h 50 min7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC)
5,500 ft310° at 16 kt−8 kt13 °C128 kt5 h 50 min7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC)
7,500 ft310° at 18 kt−10 kt11 °C130 kt5 h 44 min6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC)
9,500 ft300° at 19 kt−12 kt8 °C132 kt5 h 39 min6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC)
11,500 ft300° at 18 kt−13 kt4 °C133 kt5 h 37 min6:48 am EDT (10:48 UTC)
13,500 ft290° at 18 kt−14 kt0 °C134 kt5 h 34 min6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC)
15,500 ft290° at 20 kt−16 kt-4 °C136 kt5 h 29 min6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC)
17,500 ft290° at 21 kt−17 kt-8 °C137 kt5 h 27 min6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 21 kt−18 kt-9 °C138 kt5 h 24 min6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240280° at 25 kt−21 kt-21 °C141 kt5 h 17 min6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300270° at 38 kt−35 kt-34 °C155 kt4 h 49 min6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340260° at 48 kt−45 kt-40 °C165 kt4 h 31 min5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 45 kt−43 kt-49 °C163 kt4 h 35 min5:46 am EDT (09:46 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
LOUused from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line310/18340/28 16°340/29 10°350/27 3°330/27 -7°340/39 -19°330/58 -33°330/67 -41°330/40 -49°
CVGused from 50 nm out; 35 nm from the line320/18350/32 16°350/35 10°350/30 3°330/30 -7°340/44 -20°340/58 -35°330/72 -41°320/36 -49°
CRWused from 149 nm out; 51 nm from the line330/20330/23 11°340/25 8°340/21 2°340/33 -9°340/41 -20°330/42 -35°320/44 -39°320/43 -47°
EKNused from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line330/21 12°330/25 7°350/22 2°330/24 -10°310/27 -21°320/33 -35°290/31 -39°290/34 -47°
AGCused from 298 nm out; 51 nm from the line350/14330/20 11°340/18 8°330/17 3°340/22 -11°340/31 -22°330/33 -36°300/34 -41°300/35 -47°
PSBused from 348 nm out; 54 nm from the line360/13 13°330/14 7°300/11 3°290/12 -11°240/23 -23°270/25 -36°250/34 -40°250/45 -48°
AVPused from 448 nm out; 59 nm from the line150/5350/13 12°270/20 8°260/17 4°260/25 -11°240/31 -22°240/54 -35°230/61 -41°240/55 -49°
JFKused from 497 nm out; 52 nm from the line250/18250/23 14°240/33 9°240/33 4°240/38 -10°240/45 -21°230/86 -32°230/102 -40°230/84 -51°
BDLused from 647 nm out; 70 nm from the line120/24290/23 12°280/21 8°250/36 3°250/41 -11°230/48 -21°230/78 -32°230/96 -41°230/86 -52°
ACKused from 696 nm out; 25 nm from the line230/29270/37 16°270/38 10°270/40 4°240/46 -8°230/52 -17°240/74 -31°240/83 -41°240/91 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
SDF Louisville, KY departure VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 500 ft 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC)
FFT Frankfort, KY 40 nm out, 13 nm south of the line reported, no category calm none 812 ft 04:53 UTC
PMH Portsmouth, OH 139 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet variable at 3 knots 10+ mi 1,500 ft 663 ft 04:55 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV 209 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots 9 mi 900 ft 858 ft 04:53 UTC
MGW Morgantown, WV 288 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 700 ft 1,243 ft 04:53 UTC
HMZ Bedford, PA 358 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 500 ft 1,161 ft 04:55 UTC
CXY Harrisburg, PA 428 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 1,100 ft 346 ft 04:56 UTC
RDG Reading, PA 477 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 800 ft 343 ft 04:54 UTC
EWR Newark, NJ 557 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet from the north (010°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24 10+ mi 800 ft 17 ft 04:51 UTC
JPX East Hampton, NY 647 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle from the north (010°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 7 mi 500 ft 54 ft 04:55 UTC
MVY Vineyard Haven, MA 726 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain from the east (080°) at 13 knots 10+ mi 600 ft 66 ft 04:53 UTC
ACK Nantucket, MA destination IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the east (080°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18 4 mi 700 ft 46 ft 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,243 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ACK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, visibility ¾ mile, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR

30% chance between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility ¾ mile, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 100 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for ACK
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, a few clouds at 2,400 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet and more above
  • From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility 2 miles, rain, mist, overcast at 1,000 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 15 knots, visibility 1 mile, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 300 feet
  • From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, visibility ¾ mile, mist, overcast at 300 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility ¾ mile, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 100 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
  • From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
The forecast for SDF, the departure
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
  • From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
  • From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 5/2811 NEW YORK, NY, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 567 nm along the route · security · until 20 October · ZNY

Daylight

Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at ACK 6:04 pm EDT (22:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ACK is before sunrise there (6:48 am EDT (10:48 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
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Nantucket Memorial.