Willow Run Airport to Gwinnett County/Briscoe Field YIP → LZU
496 nautical miles (571 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 182°, about 188° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now YIP is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots; LZU is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 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 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 407 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 298 to 447 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 407 to 427 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 50 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 YIP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A333 descending, 8 nm east, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B739 descending, 8 nm east, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 8 nm east 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
- A320 descending, 8 nm east, 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east 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
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 11 nm west, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 40 nm along the route, 11 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 05:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B738 at 1,300 ft, 11 nm west, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 40 nm along the route, 11 nm west 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
- MD83 climbing, 34 nm east, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 149 nm along the route, 34 nm east 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 5 forecast points nearest it (CLE, CMH, CVG, TYS, ATL). 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 21 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 3 h 36 min | 5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −24 kt | 13 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 27 min | 5:43 am EDT (09:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | −28 kt | 10 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 21 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | −29 kt | 6 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 20 min | 5:36 am EDT (09:36 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | −28 kt | 3 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 21 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −28 kt | -1 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 21 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 32 kt | −28 kt | -5 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 21 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 33 kt | −28 kt | -8 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 21 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 42 kt | −37 kt | -20 °C | 157 kt | 3 h 10 min | 5:26 am EDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 55 kt | −49 kt | -35 °C | 169 kt | 2 h 56 min | 5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 62 kt | −53 kt | -40 °C | 173 kt | 2 h 52 min | 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 44 kt | −38 kt | -48 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 08 min | 5:24 am EDT (09:24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | used from 0 nm out; 80 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 50 nm out; 68 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 149 nm out; 49 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° |
| TYS | used from 298 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| ATL | used from 447 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YIP Detroit, MI | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 715 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
| TOL Toledo, OH | 40 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 1,400 ft | 683 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| FDY Findlay, OH | 70 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 1,400 ft | 812 ft | 06:01 UTC |
| TZR Columbus, OH | 139 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 904 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 169 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,076 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| FGX Flemingsburg, KY | 218 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 913 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| JKL Jackson, KY | 278 nm out, 22 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | variable at 5 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 1,380 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 308 nm out, 13 nm west of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 387 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 986 ft | 06:01 UTC |
| RHP Andrews, NC | 427 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 1,698 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| DZJ Blairsville, GA | 447 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,906 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | destination | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,906 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LZU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC)
LZU has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for YIP, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, 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 ¾ mile, 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 LZU 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LZU is before sunrise there (7:38 am EDT (11:38 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, Gwinnett County/Briscoe Field.
