Laurence G Hanscom Field to Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport BED → MEM
979 nautical miles (1,127 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 265° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC). Right now BED is low IFR, wind from the north (360°) at 6 knots; MEM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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: 3 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, fog). Over the first 779 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing from 12,000 ft to 24,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 230 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 180 to 539 nm out.
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 BED.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 descending, 29 nm north, 2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MHT UA /OV KMHT/TM 0621/FLDURD/TP B763/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through MHT
- Where
- over KMHT
- Time
- 06:21 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- B763 descending, 29 nm north, 1:55 am EDT (05:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MHT UA /OV RWY 35/TM 0555/FLDURD/TP B763/SK 004-005 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through MHT
- Where
- runway 35
- Time
- 05:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- from 400 ft to 500 ft ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (BOS, BDL, AVP, PSB, AGC, EKN, CRW, CVG, LOU, BNA, MEM). 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 | 330° at 15 kt | 0 | 11 °C | 120 kt | 8 h 10 min | 11:45 am CDT (16:45 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 16 kt | −1 kt | 12 °C | 121 kt | 8 h 05 min | 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 18 kt | −1 kt | 9 °C | 121 kt | 8 h 05 min | 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | +1 kt | 6 °C | 119 kt | 8 h 14 min | 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +3 kt | 2 °C | 117 kt | 8 h 22 min | 11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | +4 kt | -1 °C | 116 kt | 8 h 26 min | 12:01 pm CDT (17:01 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | +6 kt | -5 °C | 114 kt | 8 h 35 min | 12:10 pm CDT (17:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 27 kt | +8 kt | -8 °C | 112 kt | 8 h 44 min | 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 29 kt | +11 kt | -20 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 59 min | 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 36 kt | +9 kt | -35 °C | 111 kt | 8 h 49 min | 12:24 pm CDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 47 kt | +15 kt | -42 °C | 105 kt | 9 h 19 min | 12:54 pm CDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 40 kt | +17 kt | -51 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 30 min | 1:05 pm CDT (18:05 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOS | used from 0 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 020/10 | 360/20 10° | 340/19 7° | 290/21 2° | 270/35 -9° | 260/42 -22° | 250/55 -38° | 240/75 -43° | 250/72 -51° |
| BDL | used from 50 nm out; 9 nm from the line | 020/15 | 010/19 10° | 340/10 7° | 300/17 3° | 280/23 -10° | 250/35 -22° | 250/44 -38° | 250/55 -42° | 250/57 -51° |
| AVP | used from 150 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 010/20 | 020/24 11° | 360/19 8° | 350/23 2° | 320/24 -11° | 330/25 -22° | 330/27 -37° | 310/28 -42° | 290/30 -50° |
| PSB | used from 250 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 020/21 12° | 360/28 7° | 360/29 1° | 350/33 -10° | 350/42 -22° | 350/49 -37° | 340/63 -43° | 350/39 -52° | |
| AGC | used from 350 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 340/11 | 350/12 11° | 360/25 7° | 340/30 2° | 340/41 -8° | 340/44 -21° | 350/59 -36° | 340/68 -42° | 340/50 -51° |
| EKN | used from 400 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| CRW | used from 500 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| CVG | used from 599 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| LOU | used from 649 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| BNA | used from 749 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| MEM | used from 899 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BED Bedford, MA | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north (360°) at 6 knots | 2 mi | 400 ft | 132 ft | 4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC) |
| ORH Worcester, MA | 30 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 9 knots | 1 mi | 200 ft | 1,009 ft | 08:22 UTC |
| POU Poughkeepsie, NY | 130 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 163 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA | 210 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 961 ft | 08:12 UTC |
| JST Johnstown, PA | 360 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: light rain, fog | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,284 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 430 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,243 ft | 08:07 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 569 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 828 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 669 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| GLW Glasgow, KY | 749 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 716 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 819 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 501 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 919 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MEM Memphis, TN | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,284 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MEM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MEM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BED, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8802 Foxborough, MA, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZBW
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 16 nm from the route, 799 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at BED 6:08 pm EDT (22:08 UTC), at MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 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: Laurence G Hanscom Field, Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport.