Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International CHO → ATL
397 nautical miles (457 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 229°, about 237° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHO is IFR, wind calm; ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 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: 2,681 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 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 129 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 79 to 298 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 CHO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. At the destination end, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- E145 at 4,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 89 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- over ROA
- Time
- 00:36 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb runway 06 KROA
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 20 nm northwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 119 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- 30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
- Time
- 00:34 UTC
- Height
- at 12,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C52C
- Sky
- overcast, tops 12,500 ft
- Temperature
- +1
- Icing
- none
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm west, 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. At the destination end, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 45 nm west (280°) of ATL
- Time
- 01:53 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 (ROA, TRI, GSP, ATL). 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 | 320° at 26 kt | −3 kt | 11 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 14 min | 2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −7 kt | 12 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 08 min | 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −7 kt | 9 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 08 min | 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −5 kt | 6 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 11 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −2 kt | 3 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 15 min | 2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | 0 | -1 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 18 min | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 31 kt | +3 kt | -4 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 24 min | 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 33 kt | +5 kt | -7 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 27 min | 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 34 kt | +9 kt | -20 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 35 min | 3:08 am EDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | +9 kt | -32 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 35 min | 3:08 am EDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 34 kt | +12 kt | -39 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 41 min | 3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 35 kt | +7 kt | -48 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 31 min | 3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | used from 0 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 149 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| GSP | used from 198 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| ATL | used from 347 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | departure | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: rain, mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 1,100 ft | 640 ft | 11:24 pm EDT (03:24 UTC) |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 60 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 938 ft | 03:24 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 89 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 1,175 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| UKF North Wilkesboro, NC | 169 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,303 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 198 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 258 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| GMU Greenville, SC | 268 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,048 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| TOC Toccoa, GA | 317 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 996 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 367 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| ATL Atlanta, GA | destination | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ATL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ATL
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CHO, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 2 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 200 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind calm, 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 CHO 6:40 pm EDT (22:40 UTC), at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ATL is before sunrise there (7:39 am EDT (11:39 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: Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International.