Cherry Capital Airport to Detroit Metro Wayne County TVC → DTW
180 nautical miles (207 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 147°, about 152° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 71-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TVC is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots; DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 2,327 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 last 133 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 TVC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C560 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm east, 10:28 pm EDT (02:28 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 152 nm along the route, 12 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV 6 W/TM 0228/FL030/TP C560/SK BASES 019 TOPS 030 OVC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 6 west
- Time
- 02:28 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- bases 1,900 ft tops 3,000 ft overcast
- B739 descending, 0 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft
- B738 at 1,300 ft, 43 nm southwest, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 04:45 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- A320 descending, 0 nm south, 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 03:27 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- at 1,400 ft overcast
- PA44 descending, 42 nm southwest, 10:27 pm EDT (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. At the destination end, 42 nm southwest 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
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 3 forecast points nearest it (TVC, MKG, CLE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 1 h 22 min | 2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 1 h 21 min | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 12 °C | 134 kt | 1 h 21 min | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 9 °C | 133 kt | 1 h 21 min | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 11 kt | −10 kt | 3 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 23 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 1 h 22 min | 2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | −17 kt | -5 °C | 137 kt | 1 h 19 min | 2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 16 min | 2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 1 h 16 min | 2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 35 kt | −33 kt | -21 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 11 min | 2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 50 kt | −50 kt | -37 °C | 170 kt | 1 h 04 min | 2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 60 kt | −60 kt | -46 °C | 180 kt | 1 h | 2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 75 kt | −71 kt | -53 °C | 191 kt | 57 min | 2:18 am EDT (06:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVC | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 260/31 | 280/22 15° | 290/18 10° | 270/13 2° | 290/25 -10° | 300/35 -21° | 310/52 -37° | 320/59 -47° | 300/84 -54° |
| MKG | used from 95 nm out; 94 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° |
| CLE | used from 142 nm out; 100 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVC Traverse City, MI | departure | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 623 ft | 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC) |
| CAD Cadillac, MI | 28 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,306 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| MOP Mount Pleasant, MI | 76 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| FNT Flint, MI | 133 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 782 ft | 05:16 UTC |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | 152 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 980 ft | 05:04 UTC |
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 645 ft | 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,306 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, 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,600 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for DTW
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,600 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
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for TVC, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 16,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 8,000 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 TVC 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 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: Cherry Capital Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne County.





