Plan a flight · Sun 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC)

Lovell Field to Laredo International CHA → LRD

857 nautical miles (987 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 242°, about 247° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHA is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots; LRD is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) 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: 46 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure 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 CHA.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

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 southeast, 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 429 nm along the route, 15 nm southeast 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 east, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 598 nm along the route, 2 nm east 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
E120 at 27,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 6:28 pm EDT (22:28 UTC): remarks: a/c reported smooth in the out of KLRD zhu. 808 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COT UA /OV COT140020/TM 2228/FL270/TP E120/RM A/C RPTD SMOOTH IN THE OUT OF KLRD. ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through COT
Where
20 nm southeast (140°) of COT
Time
22:28 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
E120
Remarks
a/c reported smooth in the out of KLRD 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 9 forecast points nearest it (HSV, BHM, JAN, SHV, LCH, HOU, PSX, CRP, LRD). 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 3 kt	+3 kt		117 kt	7 h 19 min	4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC)
6,500 ft	280° at 4 kt	+4 kt	16 °C	116 kt	7 h 23 min	4:14 am CDT (09:14 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 7 kt	+7 kt	13 °C	113 kt	7 h 35 min	4:26 am CDT (09:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 9 kt	+8 kt	9 °C	112 kt	7 h 39 min	4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	+8 kt	6 °C	112 kt	7 h 39 min	4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	+8 kt	2 °C	112 kt	7 h 39 min	4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	+9 kt	-2 °C	111 kt	7 h 43 min	4:34 am CDT (09:34 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 17 kt	+10 kt	-5 °C	110 kt	7 h 47 min	4:38 am CDT (09:38 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 18 kt	+10 kt	-15 °C	110 kt	7 h 47 min	4:38 am CDT (09:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 30 kt	+7 kt	-31 °C	113 kt	7 h 35 min	4:26 am CDT (09:26 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 33 kt	+3 kt	-40 °C	117 kt	7 h 19 min	4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 32 kt	+5 kt	-51 °C	115 kt	7 h 27 min	4:18 am CDT (09:18 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 100 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; 72 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 399 nm out; 86 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 449 nm out; 58 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 548 nm out; 36 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°
PSX	used from 648 nm out; 38 nm from the line	140/20	140/23 18°	160/17 13°	240/5 8°	250/9 -4°	250/11 -13°	310/15 -29°	310/17 -40°	290/11 -52°
CRP	used from 748 nm out; 49 nm from the line	130/19	140/20 18°	160/17 13°	180/10 7°	230/9 -3°	230/11 -13°	310/6 -29°	310/5 -39°	310/13 -52°
LRD	used from 798 nm out; 35 nm from the line	130/21	150/19 16°	170/21 12°	170/12 8°	230/20 -4°	200/16 -13°	L/V -28°	L/V -39°	330/16 -51°

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)
HSV Huntsville, AL	80 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	628 ft	00:53 UTC
CMD Cullman, AL	90 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	969 ft	01:15 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
HKS Jackson, MS	299 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	341 ft	00:53 UTC
ESF Alexandria, LA	419 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	111 ft	00:53 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	429 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
IAH Houston, TX	598 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	95 ft	00:53 UTC
TME Houston, TX	628 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	165 ft	22:15 UTC
VCT Victoria, TX	698 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	115 ft	00:51 UTC
LRD Laredo, TX	destination	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	508 ft	7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 969 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LRD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for LRD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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 LRD 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm CDT (00:35 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LRD is before sunrise there (7:36 am CDT (12:36 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 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: Lovell Field, Laredo International.