Bradley International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport BDL → IAH
1,308 nautical miles (1,505 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC). Right now BDL is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 9 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 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: 144 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 first 779 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 319 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 230 to 639 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 389 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 BDL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 20,000 ft, 43 nm southeast, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 290 nm along the route, 43 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
- GA6C descending, 7 nm northwest, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 70 nm along the route, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
- E145 at 600 ft, 9 nm south, 11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC): overcast above 600 ft. 210 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MDT UA /OV MDT/TM 0320/FL006/TP E145/SK OVC 006
- Report
- a routine report filed through MDT
- Where
- over MDT
- Time
- 03:20 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 600 ft
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 15 forecast points nearest it (BDL, JFK, AVP, PSB, EKN, CRW, TRI, TYS, BNA, HSV, MEM, JAN, SHV, LCH, HOU). 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 | 300° at 9 kt | +5 kt | 12 °C | 115 kt | 11 h 22 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 12 kt | +5 kt | 13 °C | 115 kt | 11 h 22 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 10 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 28 min | 12:31 pm CDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 7 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 28 min | 12:31 pm CDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +4 kt | 4 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 17 min | 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +5 kt | -1 °C | 115 kt | 11 h 22 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +6 kt | -4 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 28 min | 12:31 pm CDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 19 kt | +7 kt | -7 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 35 min | 12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 21 kt | +10 kt | -19 °C | 110 kt | 11 h 53 min | 12:56 pm CDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | +16 kt | -33 °C | 104 kt | 12 h 35 min | 1:38 pm CDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 36 kt | +19 kt | -40 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 57 min | 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 34 kt | +16 kt | -50 °C | 104 kt | 12 h 35 min | 1:38 pm CDT (18:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| JFK | used from 50 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 250/18 | 250/23 14° | 240/33 9° | 240/33 4° | 240/38 -10° | 240/45 -21° | 230/86 -32° | 230/102 -40° | 230/84 -51° |
| AVP | used from 100 nm out; 33 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° |
| PSB | used from 200 nm out; 61 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° | |
| EKN | used from 300 nm out; 51 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° | |
| CRW | used from 399 nm out; 38 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 549 nm out; 69 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° | |
| TYS | used from 599 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 699 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| HSV | used from 749 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| MEM | used from 849 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| JAN | used from 948 nm out; 67 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 1098 nm out; 73 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° |
| LCH | used from 1198 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| HOU | used from 1248 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL Windsor Locks, CT | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 6 mi | 600 ft | 173 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC) |
| SWF New York, NY | 70 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots | 7 mi | 2,000 ft | 490 ft | 05:45 UTC |
| CXY Harrisburg, PA | 220 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 346 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 270 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (350°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 703 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 459 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 500 ft | 947 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 559 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 1,256 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | 739 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | 200 ft | 543 ft | 05:56 UTC | |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 889 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 346 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 968 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 162 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MLU Monroe, LA | 1078 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| JAS Jasper, TX | 1218 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 212 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 95 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,256 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for BDL, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 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 BDL 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 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: Bradley International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.