Syracuse Hancock International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International SYR → SDF
529 nautical miles (609 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 239°, about 252° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:23 am EDT (09:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SYR is low IFR, wind from the east (100°) at 5 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 1,036 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
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 190 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 SYR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BCS3 climbing, 10 nm northwest, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 359 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over CMH
- Time
- 02:27 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- B010
- MD83 climbing, 5 nm northeast, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 369 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (SYR, BUF, PSB, AGC, CLE, CMH, CVG, LOU). 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 | 340° at 16 kt | −4 kt | 13 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 16 min | 5:31 am EDT (09:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 21 kt | −8 kt | 12 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 08 min | 5:23 am EDT (09:23 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 350° at 20 kt | −7 kt | 9 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 10 min | 5:25 am EDT (09:25 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 20 kt | −6 kt | 5 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 12 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 20 kt | −4 kt | 2 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 16 min | 5:31 am EDT (09:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −3 kt | -2 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 18 min | 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −3 kt | -7 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 18 min | 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 25 kt | −2 kt | -10 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 20 min | 5:35 am EDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 31 kt | −1 kt | -21 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 22 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 41 kt | −3 kt | -36 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 18 min | 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 47 kt | +7 kt | -42 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 41 min | 5:56 am EDT (09:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 36 kt | +12 kt | -49 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 54 min | 6:09 am EDT (10:09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYR | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| BUF | used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| PSB | used from 150 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| AGC | used from 200 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| CLE | used from 250 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| CMH | used from 299 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CVG | used from 399 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| LOU | used from 499 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYR Syracuse, NY | departure | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (100°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 421 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 30 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 13,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | 13,000 ft | 1,099 ft | 05:08 UTC |
| HTF Hornell, NY | 80 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,219 ft | ||||
| BFD Bradford, PA | 140 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 2,143 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FKL Franklin, PA | 200 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 1,540 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| YNG Youngstown/Warren, OH | 230 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 1,191 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| CAK Akron, OH | 269 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | 1,700 ft | 1,225 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| LCK Columbus, OH | 369 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 743 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 409 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 900 ft | 1,076 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| LUK Cincinnati, OH | 449 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 481 ft | 05:08 UTC |
| IMS Madison, IN | 499 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | none | 819 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,143 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:23 am EDT (09:23 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- 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
The forecast for SYR, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 210 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 230 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 230 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 459 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at SYR 6:27 pm EDT (22:27 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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: Syracuse Hancock International, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.