Asheville Regional to Altoona/Blair County AVL → AOO
354 nautical miles (407 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 033°, about 040° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now AVL is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 8 knots; AOO is low IFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 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
- SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 236 to 334 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the first 88 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 226 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 344 nm of the route.
- 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 334 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 49 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 AVL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B752 at 30,000 ft, 18 nm east, 10:26 pm EDT (02:26 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 18 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
HGR UA /OV THS010020/TM 0226/FL300/TP B752/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through HGR
- Where
- 20 nm north (010°) of THS
- Time
- 02:26 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- zob
- UAL1558 at 30,000 ft, 29 nm east, 10:22 pm EDT (02:22 UTC): moderate turbulence, -36 °C, wind 240° at 50 knots. At the destination end, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1558 4014N 07742W 0222 F300 MS36 240/050KT TB MODERATE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- E75S at 22,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
JST UA /OV JST/TM 0251/FL220/TP E75S/TB LGHT-MOD/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JST
- Where
- over JST
- Time
- 02:51 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Turbulence
- lght-mod
- Remarks
- zob
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 5 forecast points nearest it (TRI, ROA, EKN, AGC, PSB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +10 kt | 12 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 13 min | 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +12 kt | 10 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 17 min | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +13 kt | 6 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 19 min | 4:33 am EDT (08:33 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +12 kt | 4 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 17 min | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +12 kt | 0 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 17 min | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | +11 kt | -4 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 15 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +10 kt | -8 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 13 min | 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 28 kt | +10 kt | -9 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 13 min | 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 30 kt | +5 kt | -21 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 05 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 32 kt | +5 kt | -34 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 05 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 34 kt | −5 kt | -39 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 50 min | 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 35 kt | −5 kt | -47 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 50 min | 4:04 am EDT (08:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRI | used from 0 nm out; 42 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° | |
| ROA | used from 98 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| EKN | used from 197 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| AGC | used from 295 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| PSB | used from 344 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVL Asheville, NC | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,900 feet | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
| GEV Jefferson, NC | 79 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 | 5 mi | 1,000 ft | 3,177 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA | 108 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west (270°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 | 7 mi | 1,200 ft | 2,558 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| PSK Dublin, VA | 138 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the west-northwest (300°) at 14 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 2,104 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 177 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 246 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | calm | 2 mi | 1,400 ft | 1,987 ft | 05:01 UTC |
| CBE Cumberland, MD | 305 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 757 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| HMZ Bedford, PA | 334 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 1,161 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| AOO Altoona, PA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 400 ft | 1,503 ft | 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,177 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AOO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for AOO
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
The forecast for AVL, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 17 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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 AVL 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC), at AOO 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AOO is before sunrise there (7:20 am EDT (11:20 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: Asheville Regional, Altoona/Blair County.