Appleton International to Charlotte/Douglas International ATW → CLT
645 nautical miles (742 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 145°, about 147° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:16 am EDT (10:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ATW is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; CLT is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 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: 760 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). Over the route from 149 to 576 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 457 to 586 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 536 to 615 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 99 nm of 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 ATW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 9 nm northeast, 11:31 pm CDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 228 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
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 7 forecast points nearest it (GRB, MKG, FWA, CVG, CRW, TRI, GSP). 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 18 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 4 h 45 min | 7:21 am EDT (11:21 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 11 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 36 min | 7:12 am EDT (11:12 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 12 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 34 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 8 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 34 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 4 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 38 min | 7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 0 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 34 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -3 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 29 min | 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | −27 kt | -7 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 23 min | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -8 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 21 min | 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -20 °C | 155 kt | 4 h 10 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 46 kt | −46 kt | -35 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 53 min | 6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 56 kt | −56 kt | -42 °C | 176 kt | 3 h 40 min | 6:16 am EDT (10:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 52 kt | −51 kt | -50 °C | 171 kt | 3 h 46 min | 6:22 am EDT (10:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRB | used from 0 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| MKG | used from 50 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| FWA | used from 149 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CVG | used from 298 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 447 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 496 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| GSP | used from 595 nm out; 64 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATW Appleton, WI | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 918 ft | 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC) |
| SBM Sheboygan, WI | 40 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 755 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MWC Milwaukee, WI | 69 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 744 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 189 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 777 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 248 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 814 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| MIE Muncie, IN | 278 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | none | 937 ft | 06:01 UTC |
| DAY Dayton, OH | 328 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,009 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| AMT West Union, OH | 397 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| PBX Pikeville, KY | 486 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 1,464 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 546 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 605 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | destination | VFR | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:16 am EDT (10:16 UTC)
Wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CLT
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ATW, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 357 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at ATW 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLT is before sunrise there (7:27 am EDT (11:27 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: Appleton International, Charlotte/Douglas International.