Alexandria International to Piedmont Triad International AEX → GSO
691 nautical miles (795 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 062°, about 059° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 17-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:44 am EDT (10:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now AEX is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots; GSO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 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: 4 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). Near the route, 375 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 207 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 484 to 533 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 513 to 622 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 AEX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 6 forecast points nearest it (LCH, JAN, BHM, ATL, GSP, RDU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 5 h 21 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 5 h 29 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −6 kt | 13 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 29 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 10 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 26 min | 7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −6 kt | 7 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 29 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | −8 kt | 3 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 24 min | 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −11 kt | -1 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 16 min | 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 23 kt | −14 kt | -5 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 09 min | 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 24 kt | −14 kt | -6 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 09 min | 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | −17 kt | -17 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 03 min | 6:44 am EDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | −16 kt | -32 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 05 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 38 kt | −14 kt | -40 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 09 min | 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 37 kt | −9 kt | -50 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 21 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCH | used from 0 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| JAN | used from 49 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| BHM | used from 247 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| ATL | used from 395 nm out; 55 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° |
| GSP | used from 494 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| RDU | used from 642 nm out; 79 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEX Alexandria, LA | departure | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| HEZ Natchez, MS | 69 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 272 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| JAN Jackson, MS | 138 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| MPE Philadelphia, MS | 197 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 458 ft | 05:35 UTC | |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | 276 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | none | 169 ft | 05:03 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 326 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GAD Gadsden, AL | 365 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 569 ft | 15:56 UTC |
| RMG Rome, GA | 415 nm out, 0 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 100 ft | 644 ft | 05:06 UTC | |
| DZJ Blairsville, GA | 484 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,906 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 563 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet | from the north (360°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 2,163 ft | 05:12 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 622 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 925 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:44 am EDT (10:44 UTC)
Wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for GSO
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for AEX, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 AEX 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC), at GSO 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GSO is before sunrise there (7:23 am EDT (11:23 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: Alexandria International, Piedmont Triad International.