Plan a flight · Sun 9:57 pm EDT (01:57 UTC)

Columbia Metro Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International CAE → PHX

1,538 nautical miles (1,770 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 278°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 9:04 am MST (16:04 UTC). Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19. 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: 3 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 8,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 90 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 110 to 180 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1158 to 1468 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1168 to 1418 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1298 to 1418 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 10 nm of 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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 16 nm north, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 349 nm along the route, 16 nm north 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, 11 nm south, 8:17 pm EDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 11 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, 39 nm south, 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth ride on final runway 26. At the departure end, 39 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
B752 descending, 37 nm south, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 160 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B712 at 3,000 ft, 38 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. 210 nm along the route, 38 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
A319 at 39,000 ft, 25 nm north, 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 439 nm along the route, 25 nm north 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, 26 nm north, 8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 549 nm along the route, 26 nm north 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
CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 12 nm south, 8:10 pm EDT (00:10 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME20. 599 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HOT UA /OV HOT/TM 0010/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB NEG/RM ZME20
```
Report
a routine report filed through HOT
Where
over HOT
Time
00:10 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME20
A320 at 35,000 ft, 4 nm south, 8:43 pm EDT (00:43 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW47. 979 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDS UA /OV CDS270030/TM 0043/FL350/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZFW47
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDS
Where
30 nm west (270°) of CDS
Time
00:43 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZFW47
GLF4 at 45,000 ft, 44 nm south, 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC): light to moderate turbulence from 40,000 ft to 45,000 ft, remarks: south zab fdcs. 1308 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TCS UA /OV TCS/TM 2301/FL450/TP GLF4/TB OCNL LGT-MOD 450-400/RM S - ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through TCS
Where
over TCS
Time
23:01 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate from 45,000 ft to 40,000 ft
Remarks
south zab fdcs
A320 at 14,000 ft, 44 nm north, 8:39 pm EDT (00:39 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. At the destination end, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHX UA /OV PXR005050/TM 0039/FL140/TP A320/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHX
Where
50 nm north (005°) of PXR
Time
00:39 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
zab fdcs
B738 at 17,000 ft, 29 nm north, 7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC): light rime icing, 9 °C, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHX UA /OV PXR330030/TM 2354/FL170/TP B738/TA 09/IC LGT RIME/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHX
Where
30 nm northwest (330°) of PXR
Time
23:54 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Temperature
9 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the descent

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 15 forecast points nearest it (CAE, GSP, ATL, HSV, MEM, LIT, FSM, OKC, SPS, AMA, TCC, ROW, ABQ, TUS, PHX). 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	230° at 14 kt	+11 kt	15 °C	109 kt	14 h 07 min	9:04 am MST (16:04 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 14 kt	+14 kt	15 °C	106 kt	14 h 31 min	9:28 am MST (16:28 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 16 kt	+16 kt	12 °C	104 kt	14 h 47 min	9:44 am MST (16:44 UTC)
10,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	+19 kt	9 °C	101 kt	15 h 14 min	10:11 am MST (17:11 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 20 kt	+21 kt	5 °C	99 kt	15 h 32 min	10:29 am MST (17:29 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	15 h 51 min	10:48 am MST (17:48 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-3 °C	96 kt	16 h 01 min	10:58 am MST (17:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-6 °C	95 kt	16 h 11 min	11:08 am MST (18:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 31 kt	+31 kt	-18 °C	89 kt	17 h 17 min	12:14 pm MST (19:14 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 43 kt	+44 kt	-30 °C	76 kt	20 h 14 min	3:11 pm MST (22:11 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 45 kt	+46 kt	-39 °C	74 kt	20 h 47 min	3:44 pm MST (22:44 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 39 kt	+40 kt	-50 °C	80 kt	19 h 14 min	2:11 pm MST (21:11 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

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	260/27	310/26 11°	280/31 9°	270/36 7°	250/39 -4°	230/57 -16°	220/74 -30°	220/83 -40°	220/73 -51°
GSP	used from 50 nm out; 52 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
ATL	used from 100 nm out; 52 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
HSV	used from 200 nm out; 60 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°
MEM	used from 349 nm out; 73 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
LIT	used from 499 nm out; 28 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
FSM	used from 599 nm out; 52 nm from the line	200/18	210/19 15°	230/22 13°	250/18 7°	270/20 -5°	280/24 -16°	280/35 -30°	290/37 -40°	300/40 -52°
OKC	used from 749 nm out; 62 nm from the line	190/29	200/29 16°	230/22 14°	240/17 9°	240/28 -6°	250/35 -15°	270/42 -29°	270/43 -39°	280/38 -51°
SPS	used from 849 nm out; 39 nm from the line	180/26	200/25 16°	220/19 13°	220/20 9°	230/26 -5°	230/34 -15°	260/37 -28°	270/42 -39°	280/40 -51°
AMA	used from 949 nm out; 63 nm from the line		190/28	220/26 14°	230/27 7°	250/24 -6°	250/32 -16°	240/51 -28°	250/52 -38°	250/51 -50°
TCC	used from 1048 nm out; 62 nm from the line		200/26	200/28 14°	220/25 7°	230/28 -7°	240/41 -19°	240/62 -28°	250/61 -37°	250/49 -49°
ROW	used from 1148 nm out; 59 nm from the line		180/23	190/24 15°	210/27 7°	230/35 -6°	240/53 -17°	240/62 -27°	250/64 -38°	260/60 -50°
ABQ	used from 1198 nm out; 67 nm from the line			200/28 13°	210/28 5°	210/44 -7°	230/46 -20°	230/80 -28°	240/74 -35°	240/58 -47°
TUS	used from 1398 nm out; 115 nm from the line		220/17 15°	210/32 7°	210/43 5°	210/49 -7°	220/64 -18°	220/83 -26°	230/81 -36°	230/72 -48°
PHX	used from 1448 nm out; 65 nm from the line	210/19	210/20 14°	200/20 6°	210/40 1°	220/58 -8°	220/68 -20°	220/82 -26°	230/83 -34°	230/69 -46°

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 Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)
AHN Athens, GA	110 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	812 ft	01:51 UTC
HSV Huntsville, AL	280 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	628 ft	01:53 UTC
TUP Tupelo, MS	379 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	346 ft	01:53 UTC
LIT Little Rock, AR	549 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 16,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	266 ft	01:53 UTC
MEZ Mena, AR	649 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,079 ft	23:35 UTC
LAW Lawton, OK	859 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,110 ft	01:53 UTC
CDS Childress, TX	949 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,953 ft	01:53 UTC
CVN Clovis, NM	1088 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	4,215 ft	00:56 UTC
ONM Socorro, NM	1278 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31	10+ mi	9,000 ft	4,875 ft	23:35 UTC
IWA Phoenix, AZ	1518 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	1,384 ft	00:50 UTC
PHX Phoenix, AZ	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	10,000 ft	1,134 ft	6:51 pm MST (01:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,875 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:04 am MST (16:04 UTC)

Wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for PHX

From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 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

6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 1228 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB

Daylight

Sunset at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.