The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 10:01 pm EDT (02:01 UTC)

Columbia Metro Airport to Drake Field CAE → FYV

653 nautical miles (752 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 292° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots; FYV is VFR, wind calm. 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: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 79 to 119 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 89 to 188 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 CAE.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • BE40 at 29,000 ft, 29 nm south, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 356 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
    Report
    a routine report filed through TUP
    Where
    41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
    Time
    23:22 UTC
    Height
    at 29,000 ft
    Aircraft
    BE40
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
    Remarks
    zme
  • PA32 at 7,000 ft, 15 nm south, 8:17 pm EDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. 30 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    AGS UA /OV KAIK360010/TM 0017/FL070/TP PA32/WX FV99SM/TA 8/RM SMOOTH
    Report
    a routine report filed through AGS
    Where
    10 nm north (360°) of KAIK
    Time
    00:17 UTC
    Height
    at 7,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PA32
    Weather
    flight visibility 99 miles
    Temperature
    8 °C
    Remarks
    smooth
  • CRJ9 descending, 43 nm south, 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth ride on final runway 26. 30 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    AGS UA /OV AGS 080002/TM 2306/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH RIDE ON FINAL RWY26
    Report
    a routine report filed through AGS
    Where
    2 nm east (080°) of AGS
    Time
    23:06 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Turbulence
    none
    Remarks
    smooth ride on final runway 26
  • B712 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm north, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 208 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
    Report
    a routine report filed through CHA
    Where
    5 nm south (180°) of CHA
    Time
    23:13 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B712
    Sky
    SCT030-TOP032 C
  • B38M at 25,000 ft, 44 nm north, 8:12 pm EDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 376 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
    Report
    a routine report filed through MKL
    Where
    35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
    Time
    00:12 UTC
    Height
    at 25,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop
    Remarks
    ZME26
  • BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 36 nm north, 8:13 pm EDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 416 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
    Report
    a routine report filed through DYR
    Where
    over DYR
    Time
    00:13 UTC
    Height
    at 35,000 ft
    Aircraft
    BCS3
    Turbulence
    none
    Remarks
    ZME33
  • A319 at 39,000 ft, 29 nm south, 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 446 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
    Report
    a routine report filed through MEM
    Where
    over MEM
    Time
    23:11 UTC
    Height
    at 39,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A319
    Turbulence
    no chop
    Remarks
    smooth
  • C750 at 43,000 ft, 41 nm south, 8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 545 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
    Report
    a routine report filed through LIT
    Where
    25 nm north (360°) of LIT
    Time
    00:50 UTC
    Height
    at 43,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C750
    Turbulence
    continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
    Remarks
    zme

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (CAE, GSP, ATL, HSV, MEM, LIT, FSM). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft290° at 15 kt+15 kt105 kt6 h 13 min3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC)
6,500 ft300° at 19 kt+18 kt14 °C102 kt6 h 24 min3:25 am CDT (08:25 UTC)
8,500 ft300° at 22 kt+21 kt12 °C99 kt6 h 36 min3:37 am CDT (08:37 UTC)
10,500 ft300° at 25 kt+24 kt8 °C96 kt6 h 48 min3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC)
12,500 ft300° at 27 kt+26 kt4 °C94 kt6 h 57 min3:58 am CDT (08:58 UTC)
14,500 ft300° at 27 kt+25 kt1 °C95 kt6 h 52 min3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC)
16,500 ft300° at 26 kt+25 kt-3 °C95 kt6 h 52 min3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180300° at 26 kt+24 kt-6 °C96 kt6 h 48 min3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240300° at 27 kt+25 kt-18 °C95 kt6 h 52 min3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300290° at 36 kt+34 kt-32 °C86 kt7 h 36 min4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340300° at 37 kt+35 kt-41 °C85 kt7 h 41 min4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390290° at 32 kt+31 kt-50 °C89 kt7 h 20 min4:21 am CDT (09:21 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
CAEused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line260/27310/26 11°280/31 9°270/36 7°250/39 -4°230/57 -16°220/74 -30°220/83 -40°220/73 -51°
GSPused from 50 nm out; 43 nm from the line300/22310/22 11°300/22 7°290/28 5°270/36 -5°250/42 -18°230/54 -31°230/59 -40°230/65 -50°
ATLused from 99 nm out; 65 nm from the line300/23320/26 14°320/34 10°320/41 5°290/32 -6°290/31 -18°280/28 -33°260/32 -41°250/28 -50°
HSVused from 198 nm out; 64 nm from the line290/15330/34 16°330/38 11°330/40 5°320/36 -7°320/31 -18°320/44 -34°330/53 -41°330/34 -48°
MEMused from 347 nm out; 76 nm from the line240/9280/14 17°280/20 12°290/25 5°320/25 -6°330/31 -18°320/52 -32°330/58 -41°320/42 -50°
LITused from 495 nm out; 69 nm from the line220/12250/12 17°250/18 12°260/22 6°310/14 -5°310/25 -17°310/40 -31°310/38 -41°310/46 -52°
FSMused from 594 nm out; 57 nm from the line200/18210/19 15°230/22 13°250/18 7°270/20 -5°280/24 -16°280/35 -30°290/37 -40°300/40 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
CAE Columbia, SC departure VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 235 ft 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC)
GRD Greenwood, SC 59 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line VFR from the west-southwest (240°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19 10+ mi none 631 ft 01:56 UTC
AJR Cornelia, GA 129 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,100 feet from the west (280°) at 5 knots 7 mi 2,100 ft 1,447 ft 01:55 UTC
DNN Dalton, GA 188 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet calm 10+ mi 3,200 ft 709 ft 23:35 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN 208 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 682 ft 01:53 UTC
HSV Huntsville, AL 287 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 628 ft 01:53 UTC
SNH Savannah, TN 356 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 472 ft 01:35 UTC
NQA Millington, TN 436 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 322 ft 23:50 UTC
JBR Jonesboro, AR 485 nm out, 14 nm north of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 262 ft 01:53 UTC
BVX Batesville, AR 525 nm out, 5 nm west of the line VFR from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 465 ft 01:56 UTC
HRO Harrison, AR 604 nm out, 22 nm north of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 1,364 ft 01:53 UTC
FYV Fayetteville, AR destination VFR calm 10+ mi none 1,252 ft 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,447 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FYV when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FYV
  • From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,500 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CAE, the departure
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 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 CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at FYV 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:10 pm CDT (00:10 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FYV is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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

Radar now, the Southeast
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Drake Field.