Athens/Ben Epps Airport to Blue Grass Airport AHN → LEX
253 nautical miles (291 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 346°, about 352° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC). Right now AHN is VFR, wind calm; LEX is low IFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 78 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 19 to 78 nm out.
- 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 last 195 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 58 to 195 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 AHN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 36,000 ft, 37 nm east, 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. 49 nm along the route, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF065025/TM 1118/FL360/TP B739/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD 36
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 25 nm northeast (065°) of ODF
- Time
- 11:18 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ztlfd 36
- C56X at 45,000 ft, 33 nm east, 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 28. 19 nm along the route, 33 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ELW/TM 1232/FL450/TP C56X/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 28
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ELW
- Time
- 12:32 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 28
- B712 at 20,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 49. 39 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1117/FL200/TP B712/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 49
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ODF
- Time
- 11:17 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 49
- A319 at 19,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 49. 39 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1042/FL190/TP A319/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 49
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ODF
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 49
- E75L at 5,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 8:03 am EDT (12:03 UTC): overcast up to 1,100 ft. 117 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV TYS230005/TM 1203/FL050/TP E75L/SK OVC-TOP011
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 5 nm southwest (230°) of TYS
- Time
- 12:03 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- overcast, tops 1,100 ft
- E55P at 14,000 ft, 15 nm west, 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 195 nm along the route, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOZ UA /OV SME/TM 1213/FL140/TP E55P/SK TOP 010
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOZ
- Where
- over SME
- Time
- 12:13 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Sky
- top 1,000 ft
- C25B at 11,000 ft, 15 nm west, 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC): no turbulence. 224 nm along the route, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOZ UA /OV DVK/TM 1123/FL110/TP C25B/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOZ
- Where
- over DVK
- Time
- 11:23 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C25B
- Turbulence
- none
- E55P climbing, 2 nm west, 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX270002/TM 1222/FLDURC/TP E55P/SK VV002 TOPS 018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 2 nm west (270°) of LEX
- Time
- 12:22 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Sky
- sky obscured from 200 ft, tops 1,800 ft
- PC12 at 17,000 ft, 31 nm north, 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. At the destination end, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 35 nm north (360°) of HYK
- Time
- 11:01 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- lil dark
- E170 at 100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- in the clouds on rotation
- E170 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
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 3 forecast points nearest it (ATL, TYS, LOU). 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 24 kt | +23 kt | 97 kt | 2 h 36 min | 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 14 °C | 91 kt | 2 h 47 min | 11:36 am EDT (15:36 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | +31 kt | 10 °C | 89 kt | 2 h 51 min | 11:40 am EDT (15:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 7 °C | 92 kt | 2 h 45 min | 11:34 am EDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 4 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 38 min | 11:27 am EDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 0 °C | 95 kt | 2 h 40 min | 11:29 am EDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -3 °C | 95 kt | 2 h 40 min | 11:29 am EDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -6 °C | 95 kt | 2 h 40 min | 11:29 am EDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -19 °C | 89 kt | 2 h 51 min | 11:40 am EDT (15:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | +35 kt | -33 °C | 85 kt | 2 h 59 min | 11:48 am EDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 49 kt | +46 kt | -41 °C | 74 kt | 3 h 25 min | 12:14 pm EDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 39 kt | +36 kt | -51 °C | 84 kt | 3 h 01 min | 11:50 am EDT (15:50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| TYS | used from 49 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| LOU | used from 195 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHN Athens, GA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC) |
| AJR Cornelia, GA | 39 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,447 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| RHP Andrews, NC | 78 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 3,700 feet | calm | 7 mi | 3,700 ft | 1,698 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 117 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 0.5 mi | 100 ft | 986 ft | 12:42 UTC |
| DKX Knoxville, TN | 127 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 833 ft | 12:30 UTC |
| BYL Williamsburg, KY | 175 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | 300 ft | 1,177 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| RGA Richmond, KY | 224 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 1.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,002 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 8:02 am EDT (12:02 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,698 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for AHN, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 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 AHN 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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: Athens/Ben Epps Airport, Blue Grass Airport.