The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 10:55 am EDT (14:55 UTC)

Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Gerald R Ford International SDF → GRR

283 nautical miles (325 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 002°, about 007° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:10 pm EDT (17:10 UTC). Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; GRR is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 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 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

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 at 28,000 ft, 4 nm north, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 4 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GRR UA /OV VIO/TM 1310/FL280/TP E170/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through GRR
    Where
    over VIO
    Time
    13:10 UTC
    Height
    at 28,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate chop
  • B739 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm east, 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC): remarks: clear and smooth. At the departure end, 39 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LEX UA /OV FFT/TM 1413/FL170/TP B739/RM CLEAR AND SMOOTH
    Report
    a routine report filed through LEX
    Where
    over FFT
    Time
    14:13 UTC
    Height
    at 17,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B739
    Remarks
    clear and smooth
  • AC90 at 28,000 ft, 13 nm east, 8:17 am EDT (12:17 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing. 29 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SDF UA /OV IIU010030/TM 1217/FL280/TP AC90/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/IC NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through SDF
    Where
    30 nm north (010°) of IIU
    Time
    12:17 UTC
    Height
    at 28,000 ft
    Aircraft
    AC90
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop
    Icing
    none
  • BCS3 climbing, 47 nm east, 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC): overcast from 20,000 ft to 500 ft. 49 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1418/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK OVC002 TOPS 005
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    14:18 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    BCS3
    Sky
    overcast from 200 ft, tops 500 ft
  • E75S descending, 47 nm east, 9:50 am EDT (13:50 UTC): a broken layer above 20,000 ft, remarks: cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet. 49 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1350/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK BKN002/RM CVG ARRIVAL, RUNWAY INSIGHT AT 250 FEET
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    13:50 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    E75S
    Sky
    a broken layer from 200 ft
    Remarks
    cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet
  • E75L descending, 47 nm east, 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft. 49 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1338/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK VV001/RM RWY 18L ARRIVAL, PICKED UP APPROACH LIGHTS AT MINIMUMS, 001
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    13:38 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    E75L
    Sky
    sky obscured from 100 ft
    Remarks
    runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft
  • CRJ9 descending, 47 nm east, 9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet. 49 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1321/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK VV001/RM RWY 18R ALS INSIGHT AT 150 FEET
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    13:21 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Sky
    sky obscured from 100 ft
    Remarks
    runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet
  • E75S at 100 ft, 47 nm east, 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC): sky obscured. 49 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1257/FL001/TP E75S/SK VV001
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    12:57 UTC
    Height
    at 100 ft
    Aircraft
    E75S
    Sky
    sky obscured from 100 ft
  • B38M climbing, 47 nm east, 8:10 am EDT (12:10 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 49 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1210/FLDURC/TP B38M/SK TOPS 005/WX 1/16SM
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    12:10 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Sky
    tops 500 ft
    Weather
    1/16SM
  • EMBRAER at 400 ft, 10 nm west, 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC): haze, remarks: ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft. 68 nm along the route, 10 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1337/FL004/TP EMBRAER/WX HZ/RM ILS RWY 23 CEILING 004
    Report
    a routine report filed through BAK
    Where
    over KBAK
    Time
    13:37 UTC
    Height
    at 400 ft
    Aircraft
    EMBRAER
    Weather
    haze
    Remarks
    ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft
  • G280 at 200 ft, 10 nm west, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): fog, remarks: ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground. 68 nm along the route, 10 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1310/FL002/TP G280/WX FG/RM ILS RWY 23 RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT AQUIRED AT 200 FEET AGL
    Report
    a routine report filed through BAK
    Where
    over KBAK
    Time
    13:10 UTC
    Height
    at 200 ft
    Aircraft
    G280
    Weather
    fog
    Remarks
    ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground
  • B738 at 26,000 ft, 3 nm south, 8:21 am EDT (12:21 UTC): no turbulence from 25,000 ft to 26,000 ft. 205 nm along the route, 3 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GSH UA /OV GSH090020/TM 1221/FL260/TP B738/TB NEG 260-250
    Report
    a routine report filed through GSH
    Where
    20 nm east (090°) of GSH
    Time
    12:21 UTC
    Height
    at 26,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Turbulence
    no from 26,000 ft to 25,000 ft
  • B752 at 32,000 ft, 25 nm west, 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC): light chop turbulence. 254 nm along the route, 25 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BIV UA /OV PMM/TM 1303/FL320/TP B752/TB CONS LGT CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through BIV
    Where
    over PMM
    Time
    13:03 UTC
    Height
    at 32,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B752
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (LOU, IND, FWA, MKG). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft250° at 19 kt−6 kt126 kt2 h 15 min1:10 pm EDT (17:10 UTC)
5,500 ft250° at 20 kt−6 kt126 kt2 h 15 min1:10 pm EDT (17:10 UTC)
7,500 ft260° at 23 kt−5 kt12 °C125 kt2 h 16 min1:11 pm EDT (17:11 UTC)
9,500 ft270° at 25 kt−3 kt8 °C123 kt2 h 18 min1:13 pm EDT (17:13 UTC)
11,500 ft280° at 26 kt+5 kt6 °C115 kt2 h 28 min1:23 pm EDT (17:23 UTC)
13,500 ft290° at 27 kt+7 kt2 °C113 kt2 h 30 min1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
15,500 ft290° at 28 kt+7 kt-2 °C113 kt2 h 30 min1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
17,500 ft290° at 29 kt+7 kt-7 °C113 kt2 h 30 min1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 29 kt+7 kt-8 °C113 kt2 h 30 min1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240280° at 37 kt+7 kt-20 °C113 kt2 h 30 min1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300280° at 41 kt+5 kt-36 °C115 kt2 h 28 min1:23 pm EDT (17:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340290° at 53 kt+16 kt-39 °C104 kt2 h 43 min1:38 pm EDT (17:38 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390310° at 58 kt+32 kt-48 °C88 kt3 h 13 min2:08 pm EDT (18:08 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 line260/17270/15 15°260/19 10°280/27 5°280/30 -7°280/29 -18°280/44 -34°290/56 -39°310/56 -48°
INDused from 49 nm out; 34 nm from the line260/18250/20 15°260/26 9°290/28 5°290/30 -7°280/40 -20°280/46 -35°290/53 -38°300/58 -47°
FWAused from 146 nm out; 19 nm from the line250/18260/22 15°260/27 7°290/26 6°290/28 -8°290/39 -20°280/36 -37°290/54 -39°310/60 -48°
MKGused from 244 nm out; 48 nm from the line240/27240/26 15°270/27 9°280/27 5°280/28 -9°280/32 -22°270/41 -38°290/44 -41°300/60 -48°

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 Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 500 ft 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC)
IMS Madison, IN 39 nm out, 12 nm east of the line low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog calm 0.25 mi 200 ft 819 ft 06:15 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN 68 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 656 ft 14:45 UTC
AID Anderson, IN 117 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 919 ft 12:15 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN 127 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower VFR from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 937 ft 14:53 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN 166 nm out, 19 nm east of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 15,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet from the south (180°) at 5 knots 8 mi 25,000 ft 814 ft 13:54 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN 215 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 777 ft 14:35 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI 244 nm out, 0 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the south (180°) at 7 knots 7 mi none 873 ft 13:53 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI destination VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet from the south (190°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 25,000 ft 793 ft 9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 937 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GRR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:10 pm EDT (17:10 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for GRR
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC) and 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
  • From Tue 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
The forecast for SDF, the departure
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, 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 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 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, 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, Gerald R Ford International.