Salt Lake City International to Detroit Metro Wayne County SLC → DTW
1,284 nautical miles (1,478 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 077°, about 066° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 3,171 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 2C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 pm MDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 269 to 348 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120255 MKCC WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2C VALID UNTIL 0455Z NE CO WY FROM 40SE CZI-30WNW BFF-30SSE LAR-70NW LAR-40SE CZI AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 448 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 368 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 80 to 309 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 90 to 169 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 727 to 866 nm out.
- 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 last 129 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 SLC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, OMA, MCW, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 20 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 22 min | 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 14 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 18 min | 8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 22 min | 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −17 kt | 6 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 22 min | 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −18 kt | 1 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 18 min | 8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -3 °C | 140 kt | 9 h 10 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 9 h 03 min | 8:36 am EDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -9 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 59 min | 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -21 °C | 149 kt | 8 h 37 min | 8:10 am EDT (12:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -33 °C | 155 kt | 8 h 17 min | 7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 45 kt | −47 kt | -40 °C | 167 kt | 7 h 41 min | 7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 54 kt | −56 kt | -48 °C | 176 kt | 7 h 18 min | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| BFF | used from 249 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 498 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| OMA | used from 697 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| MCW | used from 746 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| DBQ | used from 896 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| JOT | used from 1045 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| MKG | used from 1095 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| FWA | used from 1244 nm out; 99 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | departure | no report just now | 4,230 ft | ||||
| EVW Evanston, WY | 50 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 7,142 ft | ||||
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 239 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 338 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| AIA Alliance, NE | 418 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,930 ft | ||||
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 607 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,033 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 707 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,098 ft | ||||
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 886 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 873 ft | ||||
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 955 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,076 ft | ||||
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 1085 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 728 ft | ||||
| JXN Jackson, MI | 1234 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,000 ft | ||||
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | no report just now | 645 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
DTW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 SLC 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DTW is before sunrise there (7:42 am EDT (11:42 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: Salt Lake City International, Detroit Metro Wayne County.