Plan a flight · Mon 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC)

Albany International to Columbia Metro Airport ALB → CAE

631 nautical miles (726 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 215°, about 228° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:19 pm EDT (20:19 UTC). Right now ALB is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots; CAE is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the first 39 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the first 315 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the first 89 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 345 nm along 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 ALB.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B38M at 37,000 ft, 48 nm northwest, 11:09 am EDT (15:09 UTC): moderate turbulence. 30 nm along the route, 48 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BGM UA /OV RKA030020/TM 1509/FL370/TP B38M/TB CONS MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BGM
Where
20 nm northeast (030°) of RKA
Time
15:09 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous moderate
CL30 at 34,000 ft, 38 nm northwest, 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC): moderate turbulence. 39 nm along the route, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OIC UA /OV N66/TM 1356/FL340/TP CL30/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through OIC
Where
over N66
Time
13:56 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
CL30
Turbulence
moderate
B38M at 37,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 11:08 am EDT (15:08 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence above 37,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BGM UA /OV RKA/TM 1508/FL370/TP B38M/TB OCNL MOD CAT 370
```
Report
a routine report filed through BGM
Where
over RKA
Time
15:08 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional moderate clear-air turbulence at 37,000 ft
E75L at 34,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 10:32 am EDT (14:32 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence above 34,000 ft. 59 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BGM UA /OV DNY/TM 1432/FL340/TP E75L/TB OCNL MOD CAT 340
```
Report
a routine report filed through BGM
Where
over DNY
Time
14:32 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
occasional moderate clear-air turbulence at 34,000 ft
B738 at 34,000 ft, 35 nm northwest, 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC): moderate turbulence. 108 nm along the route, 35 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AVP UA /OV LVZ350020/TM 1504/FL340/TP B738/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through AVP
Where
20 nm north (350°) of LVZ
Time
15:04 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate
B738 at 36,000 ft, 27 nm southeast, 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 197 nm along the route, 27 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTW UA /OV MXE240005/TM 1254/FL360/TP B738/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTW
Where
5 nm southwest (240°) of MXE
Time
12:54 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate
A21N at 30,000 ft, 25 nm north, 11:39 am EDT (15:39 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALB UA /OV CAM320015/TM 1539/FL300/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALB
Where
15 nm northwest (320°) of CAM
Time
15:39 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B738 at 12,000 ft, 27 nm southeast, 11:33 am EDT (15:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 20,000 ft to 12,000 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAF UA /OV CTR310020/TM 1533/FL120/TP B738/TB NEG/RM DURD 200-120
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAF
Where
20 nm northwest (310°) of CTR
Time
15:33 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent from 20,000 ft to 12,000 ft
BCS3 at 28,700 ft, 25 nm northeast, 11:20 am EDT (15:20 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALB UA /OV CAM/TM 1520/FL287/TP BCS3/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALB
Where
over CAM
Time
15:20 UTC
Height
at 28,700 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
during the descent
B39M at 36,000 ft, 37 nm north, 11:15 am EDT (15:15 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the departure end, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFL UA /OV GFL/TM 1515/FL360/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFL
Where
over GFL
Time
15:15 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
B39M at 36,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 11:13 am EDT (15:13 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the departure end, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALB UA /OV CAM/TM 1513/FL360/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALB
Where
over CAM
Time
15:13 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
E75S at 36,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 10:56 am EDT (14:56 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALB UA /OV CAM/TM 1456/FL360/TP E75S/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALB
Where
over CAM
Time
14:56 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
SR22 at 900 ft, 2 nm south, 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 01 final. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALB UA /OV ALB190002/TM 1428/FL009/TP SR22/SK BASES 009/RM DURD RY 01 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALB
Where
2 nm south (190°) of ALB
Time
14:28 UTC
Height
at 900 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
bases 900 ft
Remarks
during the descent runway 01 final
CL35 at 28,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 10:16 am EDT (14:16 UTC): light turbulence from 28,000 ft to 33,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALB UA /OV ALB/TM 1416/FL280/TP CL35/TB CONS LGT 280-330
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALB
Where
over ALB
Time
14:16 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Turbulence
continuous light from 28,000 ft to 33,000 ft

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (ALB, AVP, ACY, RIC, ROA, 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	340° at 20 kt	−12 kt		132 kt	4 h 47 min	4:37 pm EDT (20:37 UTC)
6,500 ft	340° at 22 kt	−14 kt	13 °C	134 kt	4 h 43 min	4:33 pm EDT (20:33 UTC)
8,500 ft	340° at 24 kt	−15 kt	10 °C	135 kt	4 h 40 min	4:30 pm EDT (20:30 UTC)
10,500 ft	340° at 25 kt	−15 kt	7 °C	135 kt	4 h 40 min	4:30 pm EDT (20:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−16 kt	4 °C	136 kt	4 h 38 min	4:28 pm EDT (20:28 UTC)
14,500 ft	340° at 28 kt	−16 kt	0 °C	136 kt	4 h 38 min	4:28 pm EDT (20:28 UTC)
16,500 ft	340° at 31 kt	−17 kt	-4 °C	137 kt	4 h 36 min	4:26 pm EDT (20:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 33 kt	−17 kt	-7 °C	137 kt	4 h 36 min	4:26 pm EDT (20:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 36 kt	−17 kt	-19 °C	137 kt	4 h 36 min	4:26 pm EDT (20:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 41 kt	−21 kt	-34 °C	141 kt	4 h 29 min	4:19 pm EDT (20:19 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 45 kt	−21 kt	-43 °C	141 kt	4 h 29 min	4:19 pm EDT (20:19 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 43 kt	−8 kt	-51 °C	128 kt	4 h 56 min	4:46 pm EDT (20:46 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
ALB	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	310/19	330/25 12°	330/29 8°	330/29 3°	320/34 -10°	310/42 -21°	320/43 -37°	330/55 -47°	320/52 -54°
AVP	used from 49 nm out; 50 nm from the line	330/21	340/24 14°	350/27 9°	350/25 3°	330/29 -8°	310/31 -20°	330/41 -36°	330/57 -46°	320/55 -51°
ACY	used from 197 nm out; 94 nm from the line	010/26	360/24 11°	350/28 8°	350/26 4°	340/29 -8°	350/39 -21°	350/57 -35°	350/52 -43°	310/50 -50°
RIC	used from 246 nm out; 91 nm from the line	350/24	350/28 14°	340/25 8°	340/26 5°	340/40 -6°	340/44 -19°	340/48 -33°	330/45 -42°	310/38 -50°
ROA	used from 394 nm out; 58 nm from the line	310/18	350/22 15°	350/21 9°	340/24 6°	320/31 -6°	310/34 -19°	310/39 -35°	310/46 -42°	310/33 -49°
RDU	used from 443 nm out; 37 nm from the line	340/12	330/17 14°	320/20 10°	330/25 6°	340/34 -6°	340/38 -19°	330/37 -32°	330/35 -42°	310/36 -51°
FLO	used from 542 nm out; 54 nm from the line	330/11	330/15 14°	330/22 10°	350/21 7°	340/30 -5°	350/37 -19°	350/34 -32°	350/32 -42°	310/37 -51°
CAE	used from 591 nm out; 20 nm from the line	340/11	330/13 14°	350/24 11°	350/26 8°	340/26 -5°	350/33 -18°	340/31 -32°	340/30 -41°	330/32 -52°

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
ALB Albany, NY	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	284 ft	11:32 am EDT (15:32 UTC)
AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA	118 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	961 ft	14:54 UTC
RDG Reading, PA	168 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	343 ft	15:01 UTC
LNS Lancaster, PA	197 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (350°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	402 ft	14:53 UTC
HEF Washington, DC	296 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet	from the north (350°) at 16 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	2,900 ft	192 ft	14:56 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	345 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	640 ft	14:53 UTC
FVX Farmville, VA	384 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	415 ft	15:35 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	493 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	925 ft	14:54 UTC
VUJ Albemarle, NC	532 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	609 ft	15:35 UTC
PYG Pageland, SC	572 nm out, 8 nm east of the line	no report just now				574 ft
CAE Columbia, SC	destination	VFR	from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	10:56 am EDT (14:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 961 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, 4:19 pm EDT (20:19 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CAE

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 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 ALB, the departure

From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC) and 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 266 nm along the route · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, 276 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 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

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Albany International, Columbia Metro Airport.