Columbia Metro Airport to Norfolk International CAE → ORF
299 nautical miles (344 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 052°, about 059° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 16-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC). Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17; ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots, gusting to 21. 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: 4 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, 30 nm northwest, 9:17 am EDT (13:17 UTC): no turbulence, wind 000° at 0 knots. At the departure end, 30 nm northwest 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
- B752 at 30,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC): light chop turbulence above 30,000 ft. 189 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU090030/TM 1131/FLF300/TP B752/TB CONS LGT CHOP 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 30 nm east (090°) of RDU
- Time
- 11:31 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 30,000 ft
- C56X at 1,100 ft, 20 nm northwest, 8:48 am EDT (12:48 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the destination end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1248/FL011/TP C56X/SK OVC011/RM OVC011 DURD RWY25 KPHF
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHF
- Where
- over KPHF
- Time
- 12:48 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft
- Remarks
- OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
- B737 at 1,200 ft, 0 nm south, 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORF UA /OV ORF/TM 1156/FL012/TP B737/SK BASE OVC012
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORF
- Where
- over ORF
- Time
- 11:56 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- base OVC012
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (CAE, FLO, RDU, ORF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 2 h 32 min | 12:38 pm EDT (16:38 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 2 h 33 min | 12:39 pm EDT (16:39 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +2 kt | 10 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 32 min | 12:38 pm EDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | −1 kt | 7 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 28 min | 12:34 pm EDT (16:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | −2 kt | 5 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −2 kt | 0 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 34 kt | −2 kt | -3 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 36 kt | −2 kt | -7 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 36 kt | −2 kt | -8 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 32 kt | −11 kt | -20 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 17 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 33 kt | −16 kt | -32 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 12 min | 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 32 kt | −11 kt | -39 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 17 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 37 kt | −13 kt | -48 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 15 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 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° |
| FLO | used from 50 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 330/17 | 330/17 12° | 320/21 9° | 310/29 4° | 310/36 -8° | 300/36 -19° | 290/34 -32° | 300/29 -40° | 310/34 -48° |
| RDU | used from 100 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
| ORF | used from 249 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/30 | 320/27 11° | 310/30 8° | 320/30 3° | 290/36 -8° | 270/40 -21° | 250/52 -32° | 250/50 -39° | 260/42 -48° |
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) |
| CDN Camden, SC | 30 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 302 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| CQW Cheraw, SC | 70 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 238 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| RCZ Rockingham, NC | 90 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 357 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 130 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| RWI Rocky Mount, NC | 199 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 157 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| ASJ Ahoskie, NC | 239 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 66 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| SFQ Suffolk, VA | 279 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 70 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| ORF Norfolk, VA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 26 ft | 9:51 am EDT (13:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 357 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ORF
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, 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
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 100 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 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, Norfolk International.