Columbia Metro Airport to Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field CAE → LFT
596 nautical miles (686 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 251°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC). Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17; LFT 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: 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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, 24 nm north, 9:17 am EDT (13:17 UTC): no turbulence, wind 000° at 0 knots. At the departure end, 24 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, 10 nm south, 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC): clear from 6,500 ft to 60,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 10 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, 18 nm south, 8:12 am EDT (12:12 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,500 ft to 60,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 18 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
- C560 at 8,000 ft, 5 nm south, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): clear from 8,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 278 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MGM UA /OV MGM 5N/TM 1314/FL080/TP C560/SK SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MGM
- Where
- mgm 5N
- Time
- 13:14 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- clear
- SF50 at 2,000 ft, 5 nm south, 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC): remarks: great visibility, no tops/bases reported. 278 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MGM UA /OV 6 MILES E MGM /TM 1255/FL020/TP SF50/RM GREAT VIS, NO TOPS/BASES REPORTED
- Report
- a routine report filed through MGM
- Where
- 6 miles east mgm
- Time
- 12:55 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Remarks
- great visibility, no tops/bases reported
- BE20 at 17,800 ft, 10 nm north, 8:23 am EDT (12:23 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 13. 278 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV MGM359015/TM 1223/FL178/TP BE20/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 13
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 15 nm north (359°) of MGM
- Time
- 12:23 UTC
- Height
- at 17,800 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 13
- CRJ9 at 1,200 ft, 5 nm south, 7:45 am EDT (11:45 UTC): light haze. 278 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MGM UA /OV MGM 2E/TM 1145/FL012/TP CRJ9/WX -HZ
- Report
- a routine report filed through MGM
- Where
- mgm 2E
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Weather
- light haze
- B737 at 40,000 ft, 47 nm south, 7:48 am EDT (11:48 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 407 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MOB UA /OV KSJI069043/TM 1148/FL400/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through MOB
- Where
- 43 nm east (069°) of KSJI
- Time
- 11:48 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- BE36 at 8,000 ft, 17 nm north, 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 8,000 ft to 60,000 ft, 18 °C, wind 270° at 4 knots, remarks: ZME65. 427 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MCB UA /OV LBY045020/TM 1340/FL080/TP BE36/SK SKC/WX NEG/TA 18/WV 270004KT/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZME65
- Report
- a routine report filed through MCB
- Where
- 20 nm northeast (045°) of LBY
- Time
- 13:40 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Sky
- clear
- Weather
- no
- Temperature
- 18 °C
- Wind
- from 270° at 4 knots
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZME65
- B737 at 23,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC): no turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: zhu. 547 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BTR UA /OV KLSU945005/TM 1230/FL230/TP B737/TB NEG 000-230/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through BTR
- Where
- 5 nm southwest (945°) of KLSU
- Time
- 12:30 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no from 0 ft to 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- zhu
- A21N at 34,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. 547 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BTR UA /OV KBTR/TM 1137/FL340/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through BTR
- Where
- over KBTR
- Time
- 11:37 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zhu
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (CAE, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB, MSY). 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 6 kt | +1 kt | 119 kt | 5 h 01 min | 2:15 pm CDT (19:15 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 6 kt | +1 kt | 16 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 01 min | 2:15 pm CDT (19:15 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 8 kt | +1 kt | 12 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 01 min | 2:15 pm CDT (19:15 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 11 kt | +2 kt | 9 °C | 118 kt | 5 h 03 min | 2:17 pm CDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | +3 kt | 5 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 06 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 13 kt | +3 kt | 2 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 06 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 14 kt | +3 kt | -2 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 06 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 14 kt | +3 kt | -5 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 06 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 15 kt | +5 kt | -17 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 11 min | 2:25 pm CDT (19:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 28 kt | +2 kt | -31 °C | 118 kt | 5 h 03 min | 2:17 pm CDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 340° at 36 kt | −2 kt | -40 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 53 min | 2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 350° at 32 kt | −6 kt | -51 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 44 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | 340/11 | 330/13 14° | 350/24 11° | 350/26 8° | 340/26 -5° | 350/33 -18° | 340/31 -32° | 340/30 -41° | 330/32 -52° |
| ATL | used from 99 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 340/24 | 350/18 17° | 330/15 11° | 320/20 6° | 310/16 -4° | 300/18 -18° | 320/28 -32° | 330/43 -40° | 340/35 -51° |
| CSG | used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 340/20 | 340/15 17° | 330/19 11° | 320/19 5° | 330/11 -4° | 300/14 -17° | 330/28 -31° | 340/42 -40° | 350/33 -51° |
| MGM | used from 248 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 350/14 | 320/18 17° | 320/17 11° | 300/14 5° | 330/13 -5° | 310/12 -17° | 330/29 -30° | 340/40 -40° | 350/32 -50° |
| MOB | used from 348 nm out; 62 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | L/V 11° | 300/9 6° | 330/12 -4° | 330/12 -16° | 340/28 -30° | 340/36 -40° | 360/34 -51° |
| MSY | used from 447 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 170/11 | 160/13 18° | 150/8 12° | L/V 6° | 310/12 -5° | 290/11 -15° | 340/27 -30° | 350/32 -40° | 360/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| AGS Augusta, GA | 50 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 145 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| HQU Thomson, GA | 70 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 501 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| OPN Thomaston, GA | 169 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | none | 797 ft | 13:55 UTC | |
| AUO Auburn, AL | 229 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 776 ft | 05:21 UTC | |
| MGM Montgomery, AL | 278 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 221 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| SEM Selma, AL | 308 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37 | 3,300 ft | 166 ft | 01:30 UTC | |
| HBG Hattiesburg, MS | 437 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 150 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| HDC Hammond, LA | 517 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| BTR Baton Rouge, LA | 547 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 69 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LFT Lafayette, LA | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 797 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LFT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LFT
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 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, Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field.