Willow Run Airport to Fort Smith Regional YIP → FSM
654 nautical miles (753 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 234°, about 240° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC). Right now YIP is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots; FSM is VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) 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 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 first 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 555 to 644 nm out.
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 YIP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CL35 at 6,000 ft, 25 nm north, 6:47 am EDT (10:47 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 2,600 ft; clear from 2,600 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear above 2,600 ft. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTK UA /OV PTK270006/TM 1047/FL060/TP CL35/SK OVC014-TOP026/RM CLEAR ABOVE 026
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTK
- Where
- 6 nm west (270°) of PTK
- Time
- 10:47 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Sky
- overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 2,600 ft
- Remarks
- clear above 2,600 ft
- B739 at 9,000 ft, 29 nm northeast, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- 26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
- Time
- 10:33 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- clear
- Wind
- from 295° at 13 knots
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent
- MD83 at 2,500 ft, 25 nm southeast, 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. 30 nm along the route, 25 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over TOL
- Time
- 10:43 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Remarks
- base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
- CRJ2 at 5,500 ft, 17 nm southeast, 5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC): mist. 109 nm along the route, 17 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 0945/FL055/TP CRJ2/WX MIST
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over FWA
- Time
- 09:45 UTC
- Height
- at 5,500 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Weather
- shallow st
- A21N at 31,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 188 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAF
- Where
- over BVT
- Time
- 10:33 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (FWA, IND, SPI, STL, SGF, FSM). 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 | 260° at 22 kt | +20 kt | 100 kt | 6 h 32 min | 12:31 pm CDT (17:31 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 14 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 14 min | 12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 11 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 14 min | 12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 8 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 14 min | 12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 17 min | 12:16 pm CDT (17:16 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 0 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 21 min | 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 23 kt | +18 kt | -4 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 25 min | 12:24 pm CDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 25 kt | +19 kt | -7 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 29 min | 12:28 pm CDT (17:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 31 kt | +25 kt | -19 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 53 min | 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 46 kt | +31 kt | -32 °C | 89 kt | 7 h 21 min | 1:20 pm CDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 54 kt | +32 kt | -41 °C | 88 kt | 7 h 26 min | 1:25 pm CDT (18:25 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 58 kt | +23 kt | -50 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 45 min | 12:44 pm CDT (17:44 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA | used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| IND | used from 149 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| SPI | used from 248 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 347 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| SGF | used from 446 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| FSM | used from 595 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YIP Detroit, MI | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | none | 715 ft | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
| TOL Toledo, OH | 30 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 683 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 109 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 2 mi | none | 814 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 188 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| PRG Paris, IL | 238 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 654 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| MTO Mattoon/Charleston, IL | 268 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 722 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| BLV Belleville, IL | 367 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 459 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| FAM Farmington, MO | 416 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 945 ft | 20:07 UTC |
| TVB Cabool, MO | 495 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,220 ft | ||||
| BBG Branson, MO | 565 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,302 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| FYV Fayetteville, AR | 624 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,252 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | destination | VFR | from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,302 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for YIP, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 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
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 YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at FSM 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 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: Willow Run Airport, Fort Smith Regional.