The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 10:27 pm CDT (03:27 UTC)

St. Louis Lambert International to Willow Run Airport STL → YIP

376 nautical miles (433 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 054°, about 055° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now STL is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 8 knots; YIP is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 20 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

  • 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 STL.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • A320 at 33,000 ft, 40 nm northwest, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 317 nm along the route, 40 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through JXN
    Where
    30 nm west (280°) of JXN
    Time
    00:36 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
    Remarks
    zob
  • PA44 descending, 27 nm southeast, 9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. 346 nm along the route, 27 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    02:27 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    PA44
    Sky
    BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
    Weather
    fog
  • C525 descending, 27 nm southeast, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 346 nm along the route, 27 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    01:41 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    C525
    Sky
    TOPS035 BKN010
    Weather
    2SM
  • E170 at 21,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 346 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAN
    Where
    20 nm south (180°) of LAN
    Time
    01:07 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Turbulence
    lght chop
    Remarks
    during the climb zob
  • C25B at 2,000 ft, 26 nm north, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 26 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV 2 W/TM 0218/FL020/TP C25B/SK BASES 020 OVC
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    2 west
    Time
    02:18 UTC
    Height
    at 2,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C25B
    Sky
    bases 2,000 ft overcast
  • A320 descending, 45 nm north, 9:09 pm CDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. At the destination end, 45 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 0209/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY18 FNT
    Report
    a routine report filed through FNT
    Where
    over FNT
    Time
    02:09 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,000 ft
    Remarks
    on final runway 18 fnt
  • CRJ7 at 600 ft, 8 nm east, 9:07 pm CDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    over DTW
    Time
    02:07 UTC
    Height
    at the surface
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    a broken layer from 1,500 ft
  • A320 descending, 46 nm north, 8:35 pm CDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. At the destination end, 46 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FNT UA /OV FNT270008/TM 0135/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC019 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY09 FNT
    Report
    a routine report filed through FNT
    Where
    8 nm west (270°) of FNT
    Time
    01:35 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 3,000 ft
    Remarks
    on final runway 09 fnt
  • SR22 at 1,300 ft, 25 nm north, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 25 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    3 nm west (270°) of PTK
    Time
    01:25 UTC
    Height
    at 1,300 ft
    Aircraft
    SR22
    Sky
    bases 1,900 ft overcast
  • CRJ7 descending, 8 nm east, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    final 3R
    Time
    01:01 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    overcast from 2,800 ft
  • C550 at 2,300 ft, 26 nm north, 7:46 pm CDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the destination end, 26 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    4W
    Time
    00:46 UTC
    Height
    at 2,300 ft
    Aircraft
    C550
    Remarks
    fis 4 mile final

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 4 forecast points nearest it (STL, SPI, IND, FWA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft270° at 16 kt−13 kt133 kt2 h 50 min2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)
5,500 ft290° at 17 kt−11 kt131 kt2 h 52 min2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
7,500 ft290° at 18 kt−10 kt13 °C130 kt2 h 54 min2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC)
9,500 ft300° at 17 kt−8 kt9 °C128 kt2 h 56 min2:23 am EDT (06:23 UTC)
11,500 ft310° at 13 kt−4 kt5 °C124 kt3 h 02 min2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC)
13,500 ft300° at 15 kt−5 kt1 °C125 kt3 h2:27 am EDT (06:27 UTC)
15,500 ft300° at 19 kt−9 kt-2 °C129 kt2 h 55 min2:22 am EDT (06:22 UTC)
17,500 ft290° at 23 kt−12 kt-6 °C132 kt2 h 51 min2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 24 kt−13 kt-7 °C133 kt2 h 50 min2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240300° at 31 kt−12 kt-19 °C132 kt2 h 51 min2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300320° at 39 kt−7 kt-35 °C127 kt2 h 58 min2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340320° at 55 kt−10 kt-42 °C130 kt2 h 54 min2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390320° at 56 kt−9 kt-51 °C129 kt2 h 55 min2:22 am EDT (06:22 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
STLused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line250/24250/24 16°260/23 9°270/16 6°260/25 -6°270/29 -19°290/34 -33°290/48 -41°290/54 -51°
SPIused from 49 nm out; 36 nm from the line220/21250/23 16°260/27 9°270/14 6°270/23 -7°270/31 -19°270/28 -33°290/48 -42°300/55 -52°
INDused from 148 nm out; 62 nm from the line290/16310/20 16°320/21 10°330/13 3°300/25 -7°320/32 -19°330/46 -34°320/61 -43°320/63 -50°
FWAused from 198 nm out; 55 nm from the line300/17320/20 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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
STL St Louis, MO departure VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet from the south (170°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 617 ft 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC)
ALN Alton/St Louis, IL 20 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 543 ft 03:15 UTC
TAZ Taylorville, IL 69 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line no report just now 622 ft
DEC Decatur, IL 99 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots 9 mi none 681 ft 02:54 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL 129 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 754 ft 02:53 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN 188 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 605 ft 02:54 UTC
GUS Peru, IN 228 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 810 ft 02:55 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN 277 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet from the south (170°) at 3 knots 8 mi none 814 ft 02:54 UTC
ANQ Angola, IN 297 nm out, 6 nm north of the line reported, no category calm 0.25 mi none 995 ft 03:15 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI 346 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet calm 10+ mi 1,000 ft 1,000 ft 02:56 UTC
YIP Detroit, MI destination marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet calm 10+ mi 1,600 ft 715 ft 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At YIP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for YIP
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for STL, the departure
  • From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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 STL 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC), at YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at YIP is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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 upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
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: St. Louis Lambert International, Willow Run Airport.