Lovell Field to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport CHA → IAH
596 nautical miles (686 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 242°, about 247° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHA is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 10 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: 496 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 159 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 CHA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 29,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 129 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSL
- Where
- 20 nm west (270°) of MSL
- Time
- 22:15 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ZME31
- B712 at 3,000 ft, 5 nm south, 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. At the departure end, 5 nm south 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
- CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 0 nm west, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- wind from 090° at 5 knots
- Time
- 22:51 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
- T206 at 9,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): remarks: ZME60. At the departure end, 32 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA340032/TM 2247/FL090/TP T206/SK TOP070/RM ZME60
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 32 nm north (340°) of CHA
- Time
- 22:47 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- T206
- Sky
- TOP070
- Remarks
- ZME60
- B39M at 32,000 ft, 15 nm south, 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 427 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
AEX UA /OV AEX/TM 2307/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through AEX
- Where
- over AEX
- Time
- 23:07 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 2 nm south, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- IH340035
- Time
- 00:42 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- lt chop during the climb
- Remarks
- zhu
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 6 forecast points nearest it (HSV, BHM, JAN, SHV, LCH, HOU). 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 | 300° at 9 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 5 h 11 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +5 kt | 16 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 11 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | +8 kt | 13 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | +8 kt | 9 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +8 kt | 5 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +8 kt | 1 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | +8 kt | -2 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 22 kt | +9 kt | -5 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 22 min | 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 24 kt | +10 kt | -16 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 25 min | 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | +8 kt | -32 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 42 kt | +3 kt | -41 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 06 min | 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 40 kt | +5 kt | -51 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 11 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSV | used from 0 nm out; 57 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° |
| BHM | used from 99 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/32 16° | 320/37 11° | 330/37 6° | 310/33 -7° | 310/30 -18° | 320/40 -34° | 330/43 -41° | 330/30 -49° |
| JAN | used from 199 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 260/6 | 310/14 17° | 280/13 12° | 290/19 6° | 310/22 -5° | 310/28 -17° | 320/44 -32° | 330/48 -41° | 320/52 -51° |
| SHV | used from 397 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| LCH | used from 447 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 190/6 | 180/8 18° | 170/13 12° | 220/12 7° | 290/10 -4° | 280/15 -14° | 320/30 -31° | 320/32 -40° | 320/39 -53° |
| HOU | used from 546 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 682 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
| APT Jasper, TN | 20 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | no report just now | 641 ft | ||||
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 79 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| JFX Jasper, AL | 129 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 482 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 189 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| JAN Jackson, MS | 288 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| HKS Jackson, MS | 298 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 427 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| JAS Jasper, TX | 506 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 212 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 95 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 682 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for CHA, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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 CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAH is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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: Lovell Field, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.