Lehigh Valley International to Columbia Metro Airport ABE → CAE
486 nautical miles (559 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 216°, about 228° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABE is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots; CAE is VFR, wind calm. 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 248 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 287 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 277 to 396 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 ABE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 6 forecast points nearest it (AVP, ACY, RIC, RDU, FLO, CAE). 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 | 280° at 18 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 4 h 16 min | 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | +4 kt | 11 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 11 min | 7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 16 min | 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | +10 kt | 6 °C | 110 kt | 4 h 25 min | 7:27 am EDT (11:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | +15 kt | 3 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 38 min | 7:40 am EDT (11:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 27 kt | +20 kt | 0 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 52 min | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 32 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 07 min | 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 36 kt | +29 kt | -7 °C | 91 kt | 5 h 20 min | 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 47 kt | +44 kt | -19 °C | 76 kt | 6 h 24 min | 9:26 am EDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 67 kt | +65 kt | -31 °C | 55 kt | 8 h 50 min | 11:52 am EDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 78 kt | +74 kt | -39 °C | 46 kt | 10 h 34 min | 1:36 pm EDT (17:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 58 kt | +54 kt | -50 °C | 66 kt | 7 h 22 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVP | used from 0 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| ACY | used from 50 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -50° |
| RIC | used from 99 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| RDU | used from 248 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| FLO | used from 396 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| CAE | used from 446 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABE Allentown, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 393 ft | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| RDG Reading, PA | 30 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 343 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| MTN Baltimore, MD | 89 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: rain | calm | 5 mi | 900 ft | 22 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 129 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 14 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 149 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 900 ft | 192 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| FVX Farmville, VA | 238 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,700 ft | 415 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| CXE Chase City, VA | 268 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,400 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 503 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| BUY Burlington, NC | 337 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,900 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 616 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 386 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 609 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| PYG Pageland, SC | 426 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | no report just now | 574 ft | ||||
| CDN Camden, SC | 456 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 302 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 616 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CAE
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ABE, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, overcast at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 99 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 119 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 129 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CAE is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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: Lehigh Valley International, Columbia Metro Airport.