John Glenn Columbus International to Pensacola International CMH → PNS
609 nautical miles (701 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 201°, about 208° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CMH is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots; PNS is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 1 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 359 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 210 to 270 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 CMH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- MD83 climbing, 3 nm southeast, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
- B738 descending, 42 nm southeast, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. 250 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Remarks
- multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
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 8 forecast points nearest it (CMH, CVG, LOU, TYS, HSV, BHM, 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 | 330° at 19 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 4 h 37 min | 5:43 am CDT (10:43 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 15 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 27 min | 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 23 min | 5:29 am CDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −19 kt | 7 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 23 min | 5:29 am CDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 25 min | 5:31 am CDT (10:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −17 kt | 0 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 27 min | 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −16 kt | -4 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 29 min | 5:35 am CDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 26 kt | −15 kt | -7 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 31 min | 5:37 am CDT (10:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 36 kt | −24 kt | -18 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 14 min | 5:20 am CDT (10:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 51 kt | −34 kt | -34 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 57 min | 5:03 am CDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 60 kt | −39 kt | -41 °C | 159 kt | 3 h 50 min | 4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 42 kt | −29 kt | -49 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 05 min | 5:11 am CDT (10:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CVG | used from 50 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| LOU | used from 150 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| TYS | used from 200 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| HSV | used from 300 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BHM | used from 399 nm out; 40 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 449 nm out; 18 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 549 nm out; 69 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH Columbus, OH | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 815 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC) |
| RZT Chillicothe, OH | 30 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 725 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| AMT West Union, OH | 80 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| IOB Mount Sterling, KY | 130 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| SCX Oneida, TN | 230 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,544 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RKW Rockwood, TN | 260 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,664 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 320 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ANB Anniston, AL | 409 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 612 ft | 06:03 UTC |
| ALX Alexander City, AL | 449 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the northwest (310°) at 1 knots | 10+ mi | none | 685 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| MGM Montgomery, AL | 489 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 221 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GZH Evergreen, AL | 549 nm out, 12 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 20 knots, gusting to 38 | 4 mi | 4,800 ft | 259 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| PNS Pensacola, FL | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 120 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,664 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, 4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PNS
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 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 CMH, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, 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 CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PNS is before sunrise there (6:48 am CDT (11:48 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: John Glenn Columbus International, Pensacola International.