Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to Dekalb-Peachtree Airport CHO → PDK
382 nautical miles (440 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 230°, about 238° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 3 h at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHO is VFR, wind calm; PDK is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 4 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: 1 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), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 108 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 363 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 39 to 186 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 157 to 294 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 25 kt | −3 kt | 11 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 06 min | 6:41 am EDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −7 kt | 12 °C | 127 kt | 3 h | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −7 kt | 9 °C | 127 kt | 3 h | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −4 kt | 6 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 05 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −2 kt | 3 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 08 min | 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | +1 kt | -1 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 13 min | 6:48 am EDT (10:48 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 31 kt | +3 kt | -4 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 16 min | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 33 kt | +5 kt | -7 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 19 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 34 kt | +9 kt | -20 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 26 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | +10 kt | -32 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 28 min | 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 33 kt | +13 kt | -39 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 34 min | 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 35 kt | +8 kt | -48 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 25 min | 7:00 am EDT (11:00 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 147 nm out; 62 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 196 nm out; 51 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 343 nm out; 35 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 | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 640 ft | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 59 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 88 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 1,175 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| UKF North Wilkesboro, NC | 167 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,303 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 196 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FQD Rutherfordton, NC | 235 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 255 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| AJR Cornelia, GA | 333 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 11 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 1,447 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 363 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| PDK Atlanta, GA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 998 ft | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 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 PDK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PDK
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CHO, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 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 PDK 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PDK 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, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport.