The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 1:21 am EDT (05:21 UTC)

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 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 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.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft270° at 21 kt−11 kt131 kt1 h 22 min2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
5,500 ft290° at 17 kt−13 kt133 kt1 h 21 min2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC)
7,500 ft300° at 15 kt−14 kt12 °C134 kt1 h 21 min2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC)
9,500 ft300° at 14 kt−13 kt9 °C133 kt1 h 21 min2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC)
11,500 ft300° at 11 kt−10 kt3 °C130 kt1 h 23 min2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC)
13,500 ft300° at 14 kt−12 kt-1 °C132 kt1 h 22 min2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
15,500 ft300° at 19 kt−17 kt-5 °C137 kt1 h 19 min2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC)
17,500 ft300° at 24 kt−22 kt-9 °C142 kt1 h 16 min2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180300° at 25 kt−23 kt-10 °C143 kt1 h 16 min2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240310° at 35 kt−33 kt-21 °C153 kt1 h 11 min2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300320° at 50 kt−50 kt-37 °C170 kt1 h 04 min2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340320° at 60 kt−60 kt-46 °C180 kt1 h2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390310° at 75 kt−71 kt-53 °C191 kt57 min2:18 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
TVCused from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line260/31280/22 15°290/18 10°270/13 2°290/25 -10°300/35 -21°310/52 -37°320/59 -47°300/84 -54°
MKGused from 95 nm out; 94 nm from the line260/22290/16 15°300/11 10°290/5 3°300/26 -9°300/32 -20°320/48 -36°320/61 -45°310/74 -53°
CLEused from 142 nm out; 100 nm from the line340/7010/16 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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
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

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: Cherry Capital Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne County.