AIR PICTURE — CHAGRIN FALLS, OH — 2026-07-22
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Unusually quiet day over the falls — 137 contacts logged against a 7-day average of 409, placing us 67% below normal. The skies were open; not many took the invitation.
NOTABLE TRAFFIC
High-altitude parade (eastbound): The usual commercial corridor was well represented despite low overall numbers. ASA20, DAL683, DAL1707, UAL700, ASA2626, and several others pressed eastbound between 29,000–39,000 ft at 500+ knots. Routine, but reassuring.
N700NY [A955D1]: Topping the altitude chart at 45,000 ft, heading 065° at 531 kts. Highest contact of the day by a comfortable margin. No drama, just altitude flex.
DLH499 [3C4B21]: Lufthansa inbound, German registration confirmed, 35,000 ft tracking 054°. A long way from Frankfurt. Transatlantic traffic continuing to filter through overhead.
ETD7EEA [8966C7]: Etihad regional, northeast-bound at 36,975 ft and 539 kts — fastest contact of the day. ICAO hex falls outside known national allocation ranges, which is mildly interesting.
N8YJ [AADF5A]: Slowest contact logged — 26 knots, 1,800 ft, heading 342°. Almost certainly a helicopter or ultralight doing what slow, low aircraft do. We note it without judgment.
ANOMALIES
Fourteen no-callsign high-altitude contacts were detected today, ranging from 29,000 to 43,000 ft. All carry active Mode S transponders but broadcast no flight ID. This is not illegal, but it is the aeronautical equivalent of showing up to a party and refusing to wear a nametag.
CMP422 [0C20BA]: ICAO hex falls outside any recognized national registration block. Flying at 33,000 ft, heading 068°, apparently unconcerned about being unknowable.
ETD7EEA [8966C7]: Same issue — unallocated ICAO hex. Two in one day is worth noting.
Two Canadian-registered flights (CJT475, CJT942) transited the area. Foreign registrations, properly flagged, nothing operationally concerning.
UAL2630 failed to appear for the fourth consecutive anomaly flag. Wherever it went, it didn't come here.
PATTERN NOTES
Traffic volume is 67% below the 7-day average of 409 — a significant departure with no single obvious cause. Approximately 18 regular flights went missing, including SWA4122, DAL2884, RPA5660, and AAL2292. Low-altitude general aviation was sparse but present. The eastbound high-altitude corridor remained active throughout.
END OF DAILY AIR PICTURE