Plan a flight · Sun 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC)

Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Fort Worth Meacham International SDF → FTW

652 nautical miles (751 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 249° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 1:50 am CDT (06:50 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; FTW is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 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: 3 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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

E170 climbing, 0 nm north, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm northeast, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37
B738 at 34,000 ft, 48 nm south, 7:41 pm EDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 109 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B737 at 31,000 ft, 18 nm north, 8:13 pm EDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 158 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAH UA /OV CNG360015/TM 0013/FL310/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME25
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAH
Where
15 nm north (360°) of CNG
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME25
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 37 nm south, 8:13 pm EDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 208 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
C750 at 43,000 ft, 19 nm south, 8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 356 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LIT
Where
25 nm north (360°) of LIT
Time
00:50 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
Remarks
zme
CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 27 nm southeast, 8:10 pm EDT (00:10 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME20. 415 nm along the route, 27 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HOT UA /OV HOT/TM 0010/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB NEG/RM ZME20
```
Report
a routine report filed through HOT
Where
over HOT
Time
00:10 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME20

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 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 (LOU, EVV, CGI, MEM, LIT, 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	240° at 9 kt	+10 kt		110 kt	5 h 56 min	1:57 am CDT (06:57 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 11 kt	+10 kt	15 °C	110 kt	5 h 56 min	1:57 am CDT (06:57 UTC)
8,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	+14 kt	12 °C	106 kt	6 h 09 min	2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 17 kt	+14 kt	9 °C	106 kt	6 h 09 min	2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	+13 kt	5 °C	107 kt	6 h 06 min	2:07 am CDT (07:07 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	+12 kt	1 °C	108 kt	6 h 02 min	2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	+11 kt	-3 °C	109 kt	5 h 59 min	2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 19 kt	+9 kt	-6 °C	111 kt	5 h 52 min	1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 23 kt	+8 kt	-17 °C	112 kt	5 h 49 min	1:50 am CDT (06:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 41 kt	+16 kt	-32 °C	104 kt	6 h 16 min	2:17 am CDT (07:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 45 kt	+17 kt	-40 °C	103 kt	6 h 20 min	2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 41 kt	+12 kt	-51 °C	108 kt	6 h 02 min	2:03 am CDT (07:03 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
LOU	used from 0 nm out; 29 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°
EVV	used from 49 nm out; 31 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
CGI	used from 148 nm out; 36 nm from the line	250/10	290/12 17°	290/18 11°	300/22 5°	320/25 -8°	330/30 -18°	320/53 -33°	320/66 -42°	320/56 -50°
MEM	used from 247 nm out; 73 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
LIT	used from 296 nm out; 63 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
FSM	used from 395 nm out; 56 nm from the line	200/18	210/19 15°	230/22 13°	250/18 7°	270/20 -5°	280/24 -16°	280/35 -30°	290/37 -40°	300/40 -52°
DAL	used from 543 nm out; 63 nm from the line	180/21	190/24 15°	230/20 12°	220/23 8°	240/22 -5°	230/18 -15°	280/33 -29°	280/36 -39°	300/33 -52°

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 Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)
TEL Tell City, IN	49 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	no report just now				659 ft
OWB Owensboro, KY	69 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	407 ft	00:56 UTC
PAH Paducah, KY	158 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	410 ft	00:00 UTC
EIW New Madrid, MO	208 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	no report just now				295 ft
BVX Batesville, AR	316 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	465 ft	00:56 UTC
BDQ Morrilton, AR	385 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	321 ft	00:55 UTC
MPJ Morrilton, AR	395 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				923 ft
MEZ Mena, AR	464 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,079 ft	23:35 UTC
PRX Paris, TX	543 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	547 ft	00:55 UTC
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	632 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	606 ft	00:53 UTC
FTW Fort Worth, TX	destination	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	710 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,079 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, 1:50 am CDT (06:50 UTC)

Wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for FTW

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 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

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

9/2934 DALLAS, TX 11 nm from the route, 623 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at FTW 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm CDT (00:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FTW is before sunrise there (7:31 am CDT (12:31 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 now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Fort Worth Meacham International.