Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Newark Liberty International SDF → EWR
557 nautical miles (641 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 071°, about 076° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 32-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots; EWR is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 12 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: 4,942 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
- SIGMET E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Near the route, 348 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- 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 last 219 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
- B763 at 800 ft, 18 nm east, 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC): a broken layer, remarks: bases at at 80,000 ft and tops 1500. At the destination end, 18 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
JFK UA /OV JFK 2 MILES SOUTHEAST/TM 0551/FL008/TP B763/SK BKN/RM BASES AT 800 AND TOPS 1500
- Report
- a routine report filed through JFK
- Where
- jfk 2 miles southeast
- Time
- 05:51 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer
- Remarks
- bases at at 80,000 ft and tops 1500
- GA6C descending, 48 nm north, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. At the destination end, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
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 8 forecast points nearest it (LOU, CVG, CRW, EKN, AGC, PSB, AVP, JFK). 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 | 320° at 14 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 4 h 25 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −3 kt | 13 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 32 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −4 kt | 11 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 30 min | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −6 kt | 7 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 25 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 17 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 25 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 23 min | 6:52 am EDT (10:52 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −8 kt | -4 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 21 min | 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −10 kt | -8 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 17 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 21 kt | −10 kt | -9 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 17 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 25 kt | −13 kt | -21 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 11 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 34 kt | −22 kt | -35 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 55 min | 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 40 kt | −32 kt | -40 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 40 min | 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 36 kt | −31 kt | -48 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 41 min | 6:10 am EDT (10:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| CVG | used from 50 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 149 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| EKN | used from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| AGC | used from 298 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| PSB | used from 348 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| AVP | used from 447 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| JFK | used from 497 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 250/18 | 250/23 14° | 240/33 9° | 240/33 4° | 240/38 -10° | 240/45 -21° | 230/86 -32° | 230/102 -40° | 230/84 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | VFR Weather: mist | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | none | 500 ft | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
| FFT Frankfort, KY | 40 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 812 ft | 05:53 UTC | |
| AMT West Union, OH | 109 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| JRO Jackson, OH | 159 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet | variable at 2 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 726 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 209 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 858 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 268 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 1,223 ft | 06:00 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 288 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 500 ft | 1,243 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 388 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 703 ft | 06:25 UTC |
| CXY Harrisburg, PA | 428 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 346 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| RDG Reading, PA | 477 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 343 ft | 06:22 UTC |
| TTN Trenton, NJ | 527 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 212 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| EWR Newark, NJ | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 17 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 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 EWR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for EWR
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
The forecast for SDF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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
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 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 20 October · ZNY
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at EWR 6:21 pm EDT (22:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at EWR is before sunrise there (7:04 am EDT (11:04 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Newark Liberty International.