Columbia Metro Airport to Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport CAE → MEM
443 nautical miles (510 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 288° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots; MEM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 540 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 49 to 158 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 177 nm along the route.
- 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 route from 217 to 286 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (CAE, GSP, ATL, HSV, 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 | 310° at 19 kt | +16 kt | 104 kt | 4 h 16 min | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +15 kt | 14 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 13 min | 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 21 min | 4:38 am CDT (09:38 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +17 kt | 8 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 18 min | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | +17 kt | 5 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 18 min | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 1 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 23 min | 4:40 am CDT (09:40 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | +21 kt | -3 °C | 99 kt | 4 h 28 min | 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 25 kt | +22 kt | -6 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 31 min | 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 30 kt | +26 kt | -18 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 43 min | 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 42 kt | +35 kt | -33 °C | 85 kt | 5 h 13 min | 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 44 kt | +35 kt | -40 °C | 85 kt | 5 h 13 min | 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 38 kt | +29 kt | -50 °C | 91 kt | 4 h 52 min | 5:09 am CDT (10:09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAE | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
| GSP | used from 49 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| ATL | used from 98 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| HSV | used from 197 nm out; 62 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 345 nm out; 74 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° |
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 west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| EOE Newberry, SC | 30 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 570 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| GRD Greenwood, SC | 59 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 631 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 108 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 138 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| CZL Calhoun, GA | 197 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 655 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 286 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MSL Muscle Shoals, AL | 325 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 550 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CRX Corinth, MS | 374 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 425 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| FYE Somerville, TN | 414 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MEM Memphis, TN | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 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, 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
Wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MEM
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 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 9 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, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MEM is before sunrise there (7:03 am CDT (12:03 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, Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport.