Charlotte/Douglas International to Pensacola International CLT → PNS
424 nautical miles (488 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 230°, about 237° 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 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:28 am CDT (14:28 UTC). Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 knots; PNS is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 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: 3,697 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 3W: 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 first 20 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, 30 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 59 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
- B739 at 36,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. 79 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF065025/TM 1118/FL360/TP B739/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD 36
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 25 nm northeast (065°) of ODF
- Time
- 11:18 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ztlfd 36
- BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 39 nm north, 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC): remarks: mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28. At the departure end, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV BZM100026/TM 1057/FL350/TP BCS3/RM MOUNTAIN WAVE +/- 10KTS ZTLFD 28
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 26 nm east (100°) of BZM
- Time
- 10:57 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Remarks
- mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28
- CRJ9 at 2,200 ft, 49 nm southeast, 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 2,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 108 nm along the route, 49 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGS UA /OV AGS350002/TM 1109/FL022/TP CRJ9/SK SKC/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGS
- Where
- 2 nm north (350°) of AGS
- Time
- 11:09 UTC
- Height
- at 2,200 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (GSP, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB). 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 | 340° at 23 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 3 h 19 min | 9:47 am CDT (14:47 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 23 kt | −11 kt | 14 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 14 min | 9:42 am CDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 350° at 25 kt | −13 kt | 11 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 11 min | 9:39 am CDT (14:39 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | −10 kt | 8 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 16 min | 9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −7 kt | 5 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 20 min | 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −8 kt | 1 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 19 min | 9:47 am CDT (14:47 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 340° at 28 kt | −9 kt | -3 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 17 min | 9:45 am CDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 340° at 30 kt | −9 kt | -6 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 17 min | 9:45 am CDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 350° at 33 kt | −16 kt | -18 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 07 min | 9:35 am CDT (14:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 47 kt | −13 kt | -32 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 11 min | 9:39 am CDT (14:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 340° at 48 kt | −21 kt | -41 °C | 141 kt | 3 h | 9:28 am CDT (14:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 27 kt | −8 kt | -51 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 19 min | 9:47 am CDT (14:47 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 44 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| ATL | used from 148 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| CSG | used from 197 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 330/27 | 340/28 16° | 350/28 11° | 330/17 6° | 340/25 -6° | 350/33 -18° | 330/46 -32° | 340/45 -41° | 350/31 -52° |
| MGM | used from 296 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 320/19 | 330/16 17° | 340/21 11° | 330/11 5° | 330/27 -6° | 330/21 -17° | 330/37 -32° | 340/44 -40° | 360/30 -52° |
| MOB | used from 394 nm out; 65 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | 020/8 11° | L/V 6° | 330/12 -5° | 330/23 -17° | 330/30 -32° | 350/39 -41° | 340/40 -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 (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 6:52 am EDT (10:52 UTC) |
| DCM Chester, SC | 30 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| LUX Laurens, SC | 69 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 697 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| EBA Elberton, GA | 118 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 614 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 138 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 10:51 UTC |
| MAC Macon, GA | 197 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 436 ft | ||||
| OPN Thomaston, GA | 217 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 797 ft | 11:15 UTC | |
| CSG Columbus, GA | 256 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 10:51 UTC |
| TOI Troy, AL | 325 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| EDN Enterprise, AL | 345 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 360 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL | 394 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| PNS Pensacola, FL | destination | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 120 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 812 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PNS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:28 am CDT (14:28 UTC)
Wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PNS
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest 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 PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 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, Pensacola International.