Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International to Waco Regional ATL → ACT
658 nautical miles (757 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ATL is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots; ACT is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 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: 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 50 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 ATL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 16 nm south, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 30 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 40 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 45 nm west (280°) of ATL
- Time
- 01:53 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- B737 at 38,000 ft, 39 nm south, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 70 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGC
- Where
- 25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-08
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 (ATL, BHM, JAN, SHV, DAL, CLL). 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 | 260° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 108 kt | 6 h 06 min | 3:37 am CDT (08:37 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +14 kt | 16 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 12 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 13 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 12 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | +12 kt | 9 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 06 min | 3:37 am CDT (08:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | +10 kt | 6 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 59 min | 3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | +12 kt | 2 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 06 min | 3:37 am CDT (08:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | +13 kt | -2 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 09 min | 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 15 kt | +14 kt | -5 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 12 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 19 kt | +15 kt | -16 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 16 min | 3:47 am CDT (08:47 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | +23 kt | -31 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 47 min | 4:18 am CDT (09:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 39 kt | +22 kt | -40 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 43 min | 4:14 am CDT (09:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 37 kt | +19 kt | -51 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 31 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| BHM | used from 50 nm out; 43 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° |
| JAN | used from 199 nm out; 77 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° |
| SHV | used from 399 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| DAL | used from 549 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
| CLL | used from 648 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL Atlanta, GA | departure | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) |
| CTJ Carrollton, GA | 40 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,164 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 120 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | 160 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 169 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 209 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| MLU Monroe, LA | 389 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| RSN Ruston, LA | 419 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 316 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| SHV Shreveport, LA | 479 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 30,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 257 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| TYR Tyler, TX | 559 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| LXY Mexia, TX | 618 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 544 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| ACT Waco, TX | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 516 ft | 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,164 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ACT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ACT
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,700 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 17,000 feet
The forecast for ATL, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC), at ACT 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ACT is before sunrise there (7:29 am CDT (12:29 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: Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International, Waco Regional.