Lovell Field to Southwest Florida International CHA → RSW
540 nautical miles (622 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 160°, about 165° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC). Right now CHA is low IFR, wind calm; RSW is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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: 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, fog). Over the first 39 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 29 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 39 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 305 to 363 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
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (ATL, CSG, TLH, PIE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 340° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 3 h 50 min | 9:32 am EDT (13:32 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 143 kt | 3 h 47 min | 9:29 am EDT (13:29 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 15 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 48 min | 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 10 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 53 min | 9:35 am EDT (13:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 8 °C | 135 kt | 4 h | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 3 °C | 135 kt | 4 h | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | −16 kt | -1 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 58 min | 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | −17 kt | -5 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 56 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 21 kt | −17 kt | -6 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 56 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -17 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 43 min | 9:25 am EDT (13:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 30 kt | −29 kt | -32 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 37 min | 9:19 am EDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 30 kt | −30 kt | -41 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 36 min | 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 20 kt | −19 kt | -51 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 53 min | 9:35 am EDT (13:35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 68 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° |
| CSG | used from 147 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 330/27 | 340/28 16° | 350/28 11° | 330/17 6° | 340/25 -6° | 350/33 -18° | 330/46 -32° | 340/45 -41° | 350/31 -52° |
| TLH | used from 196 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 340/23 | 350/26 17° | 350/21 11° | 300/13 6° | 320/25 -6° | 340/35 -16° | 350/44 -32° | 360/51 -42° | 350/33 -52° |
| PIE | used from 344 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 360/10 | 340/12 18° | 330/9 13° | 290/12 8° | 260/21 -7° | 280/18 -18° | 250/20 -33° | 250/26 -41° | 250/20 -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 | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 682 ft | 5:36 am EDT (09:36 UTC) |
| CZL Calhoun, GA | 39 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | none | 655 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| FTY Atlanta, GA | 79 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 841 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| OPN Thomaston, GA | 138 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the north (350°) at 4 knots | none | 797 ft | 09:35 UTC | |
| ABY Albany, GA | 216 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 196 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| MUL Moultrie, GA | 246 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | no report just now | 292 ft | ||||
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 275 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 203 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| CTY Cross City, FL | 344 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 42 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 422 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | none | 76 ft | 09:26 UTC |
| TPA Tampa, FL | 442 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 26 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| PGD Punta Gorda, FL | 511 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 09:21 UTC |
| RSW Fort Myers, FL | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 29 ft | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 841 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC)
Wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RSW
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 200 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CHA, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 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 calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 167 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 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, Southwest Florida International.