Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Chicago/Rockford International SDF → RFD
286 nautical miles (330 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 329°, about 334° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 10:05 pm CDT (03:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 3 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: 1,439 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
- B38M at 23,700 ft, 39 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 79 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 30 nm south (190°) of TTH
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- E170 at 23,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 119 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- light
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 3 forecast points nearest it (LOU, IND, JOT). 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 | 320° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 108 kt | 2 h 39 min | 10:05 pm CDT (03:05 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 15 °C | 101 kt | 2 h 50 min | 10:16 pm CDT (03:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 11 °C | 98 kt | 2 h 55 min | 10:21 pm CDT (03:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 7 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 3 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -1 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -6 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -9 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 37 kt | +36 kt | -20 °C | 84 kt | 3 h 24 min | 10:50 pm CDT (03:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 47 kt | +47 kt | -37 °C | 73 kt | 3 h 55 min | 11:21 pm CDT (04:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 49 kt | +49 kt | -43 °C | 71 kt | 4 h 02 min | 11:28 pm CDT (04:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 55 kt | +55 kt | -48 °C | 65 kt | 4 h 24 min | 11:50 pm CDT (04:50 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; 24 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° |
| IND | used from 49 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| JOT | used from 148 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
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 | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 500 ft | 7:56 pm EDT (23:56 UTC) |
| SER Seymour, IN | 40 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 582 ft | ||||
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 69 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 845 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 109 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 148 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 00:16 UTC |
| IKK Kankakee, IL | 198 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 629 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 237 nm out, 19 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 23:45 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 247 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 845 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:05 pm CDT (03:05 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is after sunset there (6:21 pm CDT (23:21 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, Chicago/Rockford International.