Charlotte/Douglas International to Nantucket Memorial CLT → ACK
628 nautical miles (723 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 051°, about 058° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 3 h at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 89-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 knots; ACK is low IFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 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: 47 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
- SIGMET E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 319 to 558 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 130 to 339 nm out.
- 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 last 439 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 30 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 CLT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 5 nm north, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 219 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (FLO, RDU, RIC, ACY, JFK, ACK). 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 | 260° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 4 h 31 min | 7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 4 h 35 min | 7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 31 min | 7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 8 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 23 min | 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 5 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 20 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | −29 kt | 1 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 13 min | 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -3 °C | 153 kt | 4 h 06 min | 6:48 am EDT (10:48 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 37 kt | −37 kt | -7 °C | 157 kt | 4 h | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -8 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 58 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 50 kt | −50 kt | -19 °C | 170 kt | 3 h 42 min | 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 77 kt | −76 kt | -31 °C | 196 kt | 3 h 12 min | 5:54 am EDT (09:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 90 kt | −89 kt | -40 °C | 209 kt | 3 h | 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 73 kt | −72 kt | -50 °C | 192 kt | 3 h 16 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLO | used from 0 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| RDU | used from 50 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| RIC | used from 150 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| ACY | used from 299 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -50° |
| JFK | used from 449 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 250/18 | 250/23 14° | 240/33 9° | 240/33 4° | 240/38 -10° | 240/45 -21° | 230/86 -32° | 230/102 -40° | 230/84 -51° |
| ACK | used from 548 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/29 | 270/37 16° | 270/38 10° | 270/40 4° | 240/46 -8° | 230/52 -17° | 240/74 -31° | 240/83 -41° | 240/91 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte, NC | departure | VFR | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC) |
| JQF Concord, NC | 20 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 704 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 70 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 925 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 179 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 219 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (260°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 167 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CGE Cambridge, MD | 309 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 19 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| SBY Salisbury, MD | 319 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 52 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| ACY Atlantic City, NJ | 399 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 4 mi | 500 ft | 74 ft | 06:23 UTC |
| MVY Vineyard Haven, MA | 608 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 300 ft | 66 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ACK Nantucket, MA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 1.25 mi | 200 ft | 46 ft | 2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 925 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ACK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 13 knots, gusting to 18, visibility 2 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for ACK
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 13 knots, gusting to 18, visibility 2 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8719 Greenwood, DE, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8886 Greenwood, DE, Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Sunday 18 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at ACK 6:04 pm EDT (22:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ACK is before sunrise there (6:48 am EDT (10:48 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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Nantucket Memorial.