Albany International to Charleston Afb/Intl Airport ALB → CHS
661 nautical miles (760 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 209°, about 222° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 9:16 am EDT (13:16 UTC). Right now ALB is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 5 knots; CHS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 229 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
- SIGMET E25E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 4:55 am EDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 178 to 187 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120655 MKCE WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 25E VALID UNTIL 0855Z RI NY NJ PA DE MD AND MA RI NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS FROM 30SSE PVD-60SSE ACK-110SSE HTO-40N SBY-30SSW ETX-30SSE PVD AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 375 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 473 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 454 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
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 5 nm south, 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. 178 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- 20 northwest phl
- Time
- 06:38 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- overcast from 19,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B737 at 800 ft, 16 nm west, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 247 nm along the route, 16 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- E145 at 800 ft, 2 nm northeast, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 355 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
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 7 forecast points nearest it (ALB, AVP, ACY, RIC, RDU, FLO, CHS). 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 15 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 5 h 45 min | 9:22 am EDT (13:22 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | +3 kt | 11 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 39 min | 9:16 am EDT (13:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 48 min | 9:25 am EDT (13:25 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +10 kt | 6 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 01 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | +14 kt | 3 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 14 min | 9:51 am EDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | +19 kt | -1 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 33 min | 10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 31 kt | +23 kt | -5 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 49 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 35 kt | +27 kt | -8 °C | 93 kt | 7 h 06 min | 10:43 am EDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 46 kt | +40 kt | -19 °C | 80 kt | 8 h 16 min | 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 68 kt | +63 kt | -32 °C | 57 kt | 11 h 36 min | 3:13 pm EDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 80 kt | +73 kt | -40 °C | 47 kt | 14 h 04 min | 5:41 pm EDT (21:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 62 kt | +56 kt | -50 °C | 64 kt | 10 h 20 min | 1:57 pm EDT (17:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| AVP | used from 49 nm out; 55 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 148 nm out; 65 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 247 nm out; 83 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 395 nm out; 57 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 542 nm out; 25 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° |
| CHS | used from 641 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -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 | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north (350°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 600 ft | 284 ft | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| SWF New York, NY | 69 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet | from the east (090°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 1,200 ft | 490 ft | 06:45 UTC |
| ABE Allentown, PA | 148 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 393 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| MTN Baltimore, MD | 237 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: heavy rain | from the north (360°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | 700 ft | 22 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 276 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots | 7 mi | 1,000 ft | 14 ft | 07:10 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 355 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 4 mi | 800 ft | 167 ft | 07:20 UTC |
| LVL Lawrenceville, VA | 404 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 328 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 523 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 189 ft | 07:26 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 582 nm out, 18 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| MKS Moncks Corner, SC | 641 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 74 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| CHS Charleston, SC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 490 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CHS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:16 am EDT (13:16 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CHS
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 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 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 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 3,000 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 16 nm from the route, 247 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 10 nm from the route, 276 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 19 nm from the route, 533 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 12 nm from the route, 542 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC), at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 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: Albany International, Charleston Afb/Intl Airport.