Columbia Metro Airport to Palm Springs International CAE → PSP
1,755 nautical miles (2,020 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 280°, about 287° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 10:11 pm PDT (05:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CAE is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 knots; PSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 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: 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
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 179 nm out.
- 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 160 to 269 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 170 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 678 to 977 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 1177 to 1516 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 1236 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 1376 to 1486 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 349 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1476 to 1595 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1506 to 1585 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 16 forecast points nearest it (CAE, GSP, ATL, HSV, MEM, LIT, FSM, TUL, OKC, GAG, AMA, TCC, ABQ, PRC, BLH, ONT). 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 | 250° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 22 °C | 101 kt | 17 h 23 min | 10:42 pm PDT (05:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 15 °C | 102 kt | 17 h 12 min | 10:31 pm PDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 16 h 52 min | 10:11 pm PDT (05:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 8 °C | 103 kt | 17 h 02 min | 10:21 pm PDT (05:21 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 3 °C | 102 kt | 17 h 12 min | 10:31 pm PDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +22 kt | 0 °C | 98 kt | 17 h 54 min | 11:13 pm PDT (06:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 18 h 28 min | 11:47 pm PDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 29 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 19 h 05 min | 12:24 am PDT (07:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 37 kt | +36 kt | -18 °C | 84 kt | 20 h 54 min | 2:13 am PDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 50 kt | +52 kt | -29 °C | 68 kt | 25 h 49 min | 7:08 am PDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 50 kt | +53 kt | -38 °C | 67 kt | 26 h 12 min | 7:31 am PDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 46 kt | +48 kt | -49 °C | 72 kt | 24 h 22 min | 5:41 am PDT (12:41 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° |
| GSP | used from 50 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| ATL | used from 100 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| HSV | used from 199 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| MEM | used from 349 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| LIT | used from 499 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| FSM | used from 598 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
| TUL | used from 698 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 230/42 | 250/23 17° | 220/16 14° | 240/10 8° | 240/20 -6° | 260/28 -17° | 270/61 -29° | 280/52 -38° | 290/46 -50° |
| OKC | used from 748 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 220/43 | 230/31 17° | 260/13 16° | 270/11 7° | 240/20 -6° | 250/32 -17° | 260/60 -28° | 280/50 -37° | 290/45 -50° |
| GAG | used from 897 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 947 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 1047 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| ABQ | used from 1197 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| PRC | used from 1396 nm out; 127 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1595 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| ONT | used from 1745 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -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 | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC) |
| AHN Athens, GA | 110 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 279 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 13,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| OLV Olive Branch, MS | 429 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 401 ft | 11:50 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 658 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| OUN Norman, OK | 808 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,181 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 1017 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 3,606 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SXU Santa Rosa, NM | 1167 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,791 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 1256 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 1546 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 5,045 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| TNP Twentynine Palms, CA | 1725 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,888 ft | ||||
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 476 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,354 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:11 pm PDT (05:11 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PSP
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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
- 6/8928 Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 25 nm from the route, 160 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at PSP 6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:39 pm PDT (01:39 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PSP is after sunset there (6:16 pm PDT (01:16 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, Palm Springs International.