Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Midland International Air And Space Port SDF → MAF
890 nautical miles (1,024 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 250°, about 255° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; MAF is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24. 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 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
- B737 at 31,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 8:13 pm EDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 160 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast 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
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 9 forecast points nearest it (LOU, EVV, CGI, LIT, FSM, OKC, SPS, ABI, INK). 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 | 210° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 18 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 10 min | 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 16 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 14 min | 4:14 am CDT (09:14 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 13 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 29 min | 4:29 am CDT (09:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 33 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 6 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 33 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 1 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 33 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +16 kt | -3 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 33 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 19 kt | +16 kt | -6 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 33 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 23 kt | +18 kt | -17 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 44 min | 4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 36 kt | +26 kt | -31 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 28 min | 5:28 am CDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 42 kt | +27 kt | -40 °C | 93 kt | 9 h 34 min | 5:34 am CDT (10:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 40 kt | +22 kt | -51 °C | 98 kt | 9 h 05 min | 5:05 am CDT (10:05 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 50 nm out; 23 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 150 nm out; 20 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° |
| LIT | used from 300 nm out; 86 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 350 nm out; 74 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° |
| OKC | used from 550 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/29 16° | 230/22 14° | 240/17 9° | 240/28 -6° | 250/35 -15° | 270/42 -29° | 270/43 -39° | 280/38 -51° |
| SPS | used from 600 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 180/26 | 200/25 16° | 220/19 13° | 220/20 9° | 230/26 -5° | 230/34 -15° | 260/37 -28° | 270/42 -39° | 280/40 -51° |
| ABI | used from 700 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 180/26 17° | 220/18 12° | 230/25 8° | 230/28 -5° | 240/29 -14° | 250/35 -28° | 270/37 -39° | 280/37 -51° | |
| INK | used from 850 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 160/27 20° | 190/18 13° | 240/19 7° | 250/23 -4° | 250/33 -15° | 230/45 -28° | 250/45 -39° | 270/49 -50° |
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) |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 70 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 407 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 160 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 190 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 20:53 UTC |
| CVK Ash Flat, AR | 300 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 717 ft | ||||
| CCA Clinton, AR | 360 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 513 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 450 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ADM Ardmore, OK | 590 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 776 ft | 19:50 UTC |
| SPS Wichita Falls, TX | 670 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| SWW Sweetwater, TX | 800 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,379 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| BPG Big Spring, TX | 850 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 2,572 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| MAF Midland, TX | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 2,872 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,872 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MAF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC)
Wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MAF
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 19 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at MAF 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:44 pm CDT (00:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MAF is before sunrise there (7:49 am CDT (12:49 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, Midland International Air And Space Port.