Charlotte/Douglas International to Tri-Cities Airport CLT → TRI
104 nautical miles (119 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 317°, about 324° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots; TRI is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 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: 4,007 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 7,000 ft. Over the last 85 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 47 nm of 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, at the destination end.
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
- PA46 at 23,000 ft, 16 nm northeast, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 85 nm along the route, 16 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 10 nm east (090°) of HMV
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Turbulence
- light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-44
- SF50 at 7,000 ft, 16 nm northeast, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 38 nm along the route, 16 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
- Report
- a routine report filed through HKY
- Where
- over BZM
- Time
- 22:37 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Sky
- instrument conditions
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-45
- S22T descending, 2 nm northeast, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. At the destination end, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent RY23 tri
- CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 46 nm southwest, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. At the destination end, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 40 nm east (090°) of VXV
- Time
- 22:46 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-42
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 2 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TRI). 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 | 310° at 25 kt | +25 kt | 11 °C | 95 kt | 1 h 06 min | 10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 10 °C | 95 kt | 1 h 06 min | 10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 8 °C | 93 kt | 1 h 07 min | 10:15 pm EDT (02:15 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 5 °C | 93 kt | 1 h 07 min | 10:15 pm EDT (02:15 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 2 °C | 93 kt | 1 h 07 min | 10:15 pm EDT (02:15 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 28 kt | +27 kt | -1 °C | 93 kt | 1 h 07 min | 10:15 pm EDT (02:15 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 29 kt | +26 kt | -4 °C | 94 kt | 1 h 06 min | 10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 31 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 1 h 06 min | 10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 36 kt | +22 kt | -20 °C | 98 kt | 1 h 04 min | 10:12 pm EDT (02:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 44 kt | +9 kt | -31 °C | 111 kt | 56 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 48 kt | +6 kt | -39 °C | 114 kt | 55 min | 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 48 kt | +9 kt | -49 °C | 111 kt | 56 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 59 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| TRI | used from 47 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° |
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 3,700 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC) |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 38 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,518 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TRI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC)
Wind from the west at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for TRI
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, fog nearby, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 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 TRI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TRI is after sunset there (6:59 pm EDT (22:59 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, Tri-Cities Airport.