Charlotte/Douglas International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport CLT → IAH
792 nautical miles (911 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 251°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 8:23 am CDT (13:23 UTC). Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) 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: 5,695 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 188 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 99 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 119 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 247 nm along 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
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 6 forecast points nearest it (GSP, ATL, BHM, JAN, LCH, HOU). 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 | 300° at 8 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 6 h 57 min | 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 10 kt | +5 kt | 16 °C | 115 kt | 6 h 53 min | 8:23 am CDT (13:23 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 12 kt | +6 kt | 12 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 57 min | 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +6 kt | 9 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 57 min | 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | +6 kt | 6 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 57 min | 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +8 kt | 2 °C | 112 kt | 7 h 04 min | 8:34 am CDT (13:34 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | +11 kt | -3 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 16 min | 8:46 am CDT (13:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 21 kt | +12 kt | -5 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 20 min | 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 25 kt | +15 kt | -16 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 33 min | 9:03 am CDT (14:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 36 kt | +13 kt | -32 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 24 min | 8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 39 kt | +11 kt | -40 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 16 min | 8:46 am CDT (13:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 37 kt | +7 kt | -51 °C | 113 kt | 7 h 01 min | 8:31 am CDT (13:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP | used from 0 nm out; 40 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 148 nm out; 36 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° |
| BHM | used from 247 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| JAN | used from 396 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| LCH | used from 594 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| HOU | used from 742 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -52° |
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) |
| GYH Greenville, SC | 79 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 955 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CEU Clemson, SC | 99 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west (270°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 890 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 198 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 05:50 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 307 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 650 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | 356 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | none | 169 ft | 06:20 UTC |
| MEI Meridian, MS | 426 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 05:58 UTC |
| JAN Jackson, MS | 485 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 623 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DRI De Ridder, LA | 673 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 201 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| BMT Beaumont, TX | 732 nm out, 22 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 95 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,040 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:23 am CDT (13:23 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 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, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.