Lovell Field to Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field CHA → LFT
449 nautical miles (517 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 232°, about 237° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 10-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:46 am CDT (15:46 UTC). Right now CHA is low IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 3 knots; LFT is VFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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). Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the last 319 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 CHA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 36,000 ft, 37 nm north, 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. At the departure end, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV HCH250025/TM 1134/FL360/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 36
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of HCH
- Time
- 11:34 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 36
- C56X at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1104/FL010/TP C56X/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- over CHA
- Time
- 11:04 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- TOP010
- Remarks
- during the climb runway 20 departure
- CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1015/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- over CHA
- Time
- 10:15 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- TOP010
- Remarks
- during the climb runway 20 departure
- B38M at 35,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 39. At the departure end, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV GQO110025/TM 1004/FL350/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 39
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 25 nm east (110°) of GQO
- Time
- 10:04 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 39
- BE36 at 8,000 ft, 33 nm northwest, 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZME65. 329 nm along the route, 33 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAN UA /OV MHZ225040/TM 1118/FL080/TP BE36/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZME65
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAN
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (225°) of MHZ
- Time
- 11:18 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZME65
- A21N at 34,000 ft, 15 nm southeast, 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. 399 nm along the route, 15 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BTR UA /OV KBTR/TM 1137/FL340/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through BTR
- Where
- over KBTR
- Time
- 11:37 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zhu
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 4 forecast points nearest it (HSV, BHM, JAN, MSY). 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 | 280° at 9 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 3 h 56 min | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | +5 kt | 16 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 54 min | 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 11 kt | +3 kt | 12 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 50 min | 11:09 am CDT (16:09 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 10 kt | +2 kt | 8 °C | 118 kt | 3 h 48 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 9 kt | +1 kt | 4 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 46 min | 11:05 am CDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 12 kt | +1 kt | 1 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 46 min | 11:05 am CDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +2 kt | -2 °C | 118 kt | 3 h 48 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 17 kt | +2 kt | -5 °C | 118 kt | 3 h 48 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 15 kt | +4 kt | -17 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 52 min | 11:11 am CDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 35 kt | 0 | -31 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 44 min | 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 40 kt | −6 kt | -40 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 34 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 340° at 38 kt | −10 kt | -51 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 27 min | 10:46 am CDT (15:46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSV | used from 0 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° |
| BHM | used from 100 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| JAN | used from 200 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 240/10 | 260/15 18° | 280/10 11° | 290/6 6° | 290/15 -5° | 300/15 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 330/38 -40° | 330/39 -51° |
| MSY | used from 349 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 150/9 | 140/8 18° | L/V 13° | L/V 6° | 320/15 -5° | 310/16 -16° | 320/32 -31° | 340/35 -40° | 350/34 -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 | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 0.13 mi | 200 ft | 682 ft | 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC) |
| BFZ Albertville, AL | 70 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 1,032 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 120 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 8 mi | none | 650 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | 160 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 169 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| AIV Aliceville, AL | 190 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 150 ft | ||||
| MEI Meridian, MS | 239 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 11:58 UTC |
| MCB Mc Comb, MS | 349 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 413 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| BTR Baton Rouge, LA | 399 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 69 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HZR New Roads, LA | 409 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.25 mi | none | 39 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| LFT Lafayette, LA | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,032 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LFT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:46 am CDT (15:46 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LFT
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CHA, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 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 LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 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, Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field.