Charlotte/Douglas International to Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field CLT → LFT
633 nautical miles (728 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 245°, about 252° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots; LFT is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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: 716 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 8,000 ft. Over the first 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 99 to 188 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 247 to 247 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 CLT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 14 nm south, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 227 nm along the route, 14 nm south 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
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 16 nm north, 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 237 nm along the route, 16 nm north 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 7 forecast points nearest it (GSP, ATL, BHM, MGM, MOB, JAN, MSY). 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 15 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 5 h 25 min | 3:05 am CDT (08:05 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | +1 kt | 16 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 19 min | 2:59 am CDT (07:59 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +1 kt | 12 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 19 min | 2:59 am CDT (07:59 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +2 kt | 8 °C | 118 kt | 5 h 22 min | 3:02 am CDT (08:02 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 5 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 27 min | 3:07 am CDT (08:07 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +7 kt | 1 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 36 min | 3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | +9 kt | -3 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 42 min | 3:22 am CDT (08:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 24 kt | +11 kt | -6 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 48 min | 3:28 am CDT (08:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 30 kt | +13 kt | -17 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 55 min | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 39 kt | +7 kt | -32 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 36 min | 3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 42 kt | +5 kt | -41 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 30 min | 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 40 kt | 0 | -50 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 16 min | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 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; 41 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; 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° |
| BHM | used from 247 nm out; 51 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° |
| MGM | used from 297 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| MOB | used from 396 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 330/5 | 330/6 19° | 340/6 11° | 330/10 7° | 320/16 -5° | 310/26 -16° | 340/40 -32° | 340/47 -42° | 350/51 -52° |
| JAN | used from 445 nm out; 60 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° |
| MSY | used from 544 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 110/5 | 150/6 19° | L/V 12° | 310/5 7° | 310/13 -4° | 290/20 -16° | 330/36 -31° | 330/37 -41° | 350/43 -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 Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) |
| SPA Spartanburg, SC | 49 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 802 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| GYH Greenville, SC | 79 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 955 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 168 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| FTY Atlanta, GA | 198 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 841 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| SCD Sylacauga, AL | 297 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 568 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| SEM Selma, AL | 346 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37 | 3,300 ft | 166 ft | 01:30 UTC | |
| DYA Demopolis, AL | 386 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 111 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| LUL Laurel, MS | 465 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 238 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| MCB Mc Comb, MS | 534 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 413 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| BTR Baton Rouge, LA | 583 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 69 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| LFT Lafayette, LA | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LFT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LFT
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, 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 CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LFT is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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, Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field.