Columbia Metro Airport to Abilene Regional CAE → ABI
936 nautical miles (1,077 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC). Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17; ABI is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 15 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 TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 169 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 CAE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C172 at 4,500 ft, 17 nm north, 9:17 am EDT (13:17 UTC): no turbulence, wind 000° at 0 knots. At the departure end, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
EOE UA /OV EOE180006 /TM 1317 /FL045 /TP C172 /WV 00000KT /TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through EOE
- Where
- 6 nm south (180°) of EOE
- Time
- 13:17 UTC
- Height
- at 4,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Wind
- from 000° at 0 knots
- Turbulence
- none
- E145 at 6,500 ft, 26 nm south, 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC): clear from 6,500 ft to 60,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGS UA /OV AGS 350008/TM 1318/FL065/TP E145/SK SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGS
- Where
- 8 nm north (350°) of AGS
- Time
- 13:18 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- clear
- C68A at 1,500 ft, 34 nm south, 8:12 am EDT (12:12 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,500 ft to 60,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGS UA /OV AGS/TM 1212/FL015/TP C68A/SK SKC/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGS
- Where
- over AGS
- Time
- 12:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C68A
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- CRJ9 at 2,200 ft, 32 nm south, 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 2,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGS UA /OV AGS350002/TM 1109/FL022/TP CRJ9/SK SKC/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGS
- Where
- 2 nm north (350°) of AGS
- Time
- 11:09 UTC
- Height
- at 2,200 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- B737 at 17,000 ft, 30 nm north, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 16. 80 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ELW/TM 1314/FL170/TP B737/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 16
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ELW
- Time
- 13:14 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 16
- C56X at 45,000 ft, 30 nm north, 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 28. 80 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ELW/TM 1232/FL450/TP C56X/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 28
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ELW
- Time
- 12:32 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 28
- LJ45 at 41,000 ft, 48 nm north, 9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC): remarks: mountain wave + 40FT 10 knots ztlfd 40. 110 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1345/FL410/TP LJ45/RM MTN WAVE +- 40FT 10 KTS ZTLFD 40
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ODF
- Time
- 13:45 UTC
- Height
- at 41,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Remarks
- mountain wave + 40FT 10 knots ztlfd 40
- B712 at 20,000 ft, 48 nm north, 7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 49. 110 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1117/FL200/TP B712/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 49
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ODF
- Time
- 11:17 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 49
- F2TH at 41,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:57 am EDT (11:57 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 02. 209 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV RMG270015/TM 1157/FL410/TP F2TH/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 02
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 15 nm west (270°) of RMG
- Time
- 11:57 UTC
- Height
- at 41,000 ft
- Aircraft
- F2TH
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 02
- B38M at 39,000 ft, 7 nm north, 7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 02. 239 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV CTJ300040/TM 1158/FL390/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 02
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 40 nm northwest (300°) of CTJ
- Time
- 11:58 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 02
- BE9L at 5,000 ft, 14 nm north, 9:06 am EDT (13:06 UTC): clear from 5,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: ZME65. 528 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LLQ UA /OV LLQ/TM 1306/FL050/TP BE9L/SK SKC/RM ZME65
- Report
- a routine report filed through LLQ
- Where
- over LLQ
- Time
- 13:06 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Sky
- clear
- Remarks
- ZME65
- SR22 at 6,000 ft, 49 nm north, 8:50 am EDT (12:50 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW83. 607 nm along the route, 49 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TXK UA /OV TXK040050/TM 1250/FL060/TP SR22/TB NEG/RM ZFW83
- Report
- a routine report filed through TXK
- Where
- 50 nm northeast (040°) of TXK
- Time
- 12:50 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW83
- A321 , 49 nm south, 8:03 am EDT (12:03 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW86. 627 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SHV UA /OV EMG/TM 1203/FLB38M/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP DURC/RM ZFW86
- Report
- a routine report filed through SHV
- Where
- over EMG
- Time
- 12:03 UTC
- Height
- at B38M
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop during the climb
- Remarks
- ZFW86
- E55P at 11,000 ft, 12 nm southeast, 8:42 am EDT (12:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW83. 767 nm along the route, 12 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRL UA /OV TRL/TM 1242/FL110/TP E55P/TB NEG/RM ZFW83
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRL
- Where
- over TRL
- Time
- 12:42 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW83
10 more routine reports are on the map.
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 9 forecast points nearest it (CAE, GSP, ATL, BHM, JAN, LIT, SHV, DAL, ABI). 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 | 250° at 11 kt | +12 kt | 19 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 40 min | 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 11 kt | +12 kt | 16 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 40 min | 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 12 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 40 min | 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | +11 kt | 9 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 35 min | 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 12 kt | +11 kt | 6 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 35 min | 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | +12 kt | 1 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 40 min | 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | +14 kt | -3 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 50 min | 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 17 kt | +15 kt | -6 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 55 min | 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 16 kt | +14 kt | -17 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 50 min | 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 35 kt | +26 kt | -30 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 57 min | 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 37 kt | +22 kt | -40 °C | 98 kt | 9 h 33 min | 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 34 kt | +19 kt | -51 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 16 min | 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAE | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 340/17 | 330/15 12° | 320/22 9° | 320/31 5° | 330/35 -7° | 320/33 -19° | 340/40 -32° | 350/43 -39° | 320/35 -49° |
| GSP | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| ATL | used from 100 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| BHM | used from 199 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| JAN | used from 398 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 240/10 | 260/15 18° | 280/10 11° | 290/6 6° | 290/15 -5° | 300/15 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 330/38 -40° | 330/39 -51° |
| LIT | used from 498 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| SHV | used from 548 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| DAL | used from 697 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 190/30 | 200/28 18° | 220/18 13° | 250/13 8° | 240/24 -6° | 270/20 -14° | 270/35 -29° | 290/34 -39° | 310/41 -51° |
| ABI | used from 846 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/30 19° | 220/12 16° | 220/11 9° | 230/15 -5° | 250/26 -15° | 250/39 -28° | 270/36 -38° | 280/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAE Columbia, SC | departure | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC) |
| IIY Washington, GA | 90 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 646 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| PDK Atlanta, GA | 159 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 998 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 279 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| JFX Jasper, AL | 309 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 482 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 448 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 162 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| GLH Greenville, MS | 498 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 130 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| TXK Texarkana, AR | 647 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 389 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| GVT Greenville, TX | 747 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 534 ft | 13:35 UTC |
| FTW Fort Worth, TX | 817 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 710 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| GZN Cisco, TX | 906 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 1,711 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| ABI Abilene, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,790 ft | 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,790 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC)
Wind from the south at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ABI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for CAE, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8928 Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 169 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZTL
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 3 nm from the route, 787 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 807 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at ABI 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm CDT (00:33 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: Columbia Metro Airport, Abilene Regional.
