Plan a flight · Sun 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC)

St. Louis Downtown Airport to Athens/Ben Epps Airport CPS → AHN

431 nautical miles (496 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 128°, about 128° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CPS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots; AHN is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 196 to 265 nm out.
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 route from 275 to 304 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 314 to 422 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 373 to 392 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 CPS.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B737 at 31,000 ft, 23 nm southwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 98 nm along the route, 23 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAH UA /OV CNG360015/TM 0013/FL310/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME25
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAH
Where
15 nm north (360°) of CNG
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME25
B738 at 34,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 176 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 9 nm south, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 186 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 9 nm south, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 196 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
T206 at 9,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 5:47 pm CDT (22:47 UTC): remarks: ZME60. 294 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA340032/TM 2247/FL090/TP T206/SK TOP070/RM ZME60
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
32 nm north (340°) of CHA
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
T206
Sky
TOP070
Remarks
ZME60
CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 14 nm south, 5:51 pm CDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 314 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
wind from 090° at 5 knots
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
B712 at 3,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 324 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
5 nm south (180°) of CHA
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
SCT030-TOP032 C
C55B at 3,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 402 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
RV5 at 3,000 ft, 21 nm south, 4:55 pm CDT (21:55 UTC): overcast above 3,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AHN UA /OV 52A/TM 2155/FL030/TP RV5/SK OVC 035/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through AHN
Where
over 52A
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
RV5
Sky
overcast from 3,500 ft
Remarks
during the descent

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (STL, CGI, EVV, BNA, TYS, ATL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	3 h 13 min	12:01 am EDT (04:01 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 21 kt	−21 kt		141 kt	3 h 03 min	11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	−26 kt	13 °C	146 kt	2 h 57 min	11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 30 kt	−30 kt	9 °C	150 kt	2 h 52 min	11:40 pm EDT (03:40 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 34 kt	−33 kt	6 °C	153 kt	2 h 49 min	11:37 pm EDT (03:37 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 34 kt	−33 kt	2 °C	153 kt	2 h 49 min	11:37 pm EDT (03:37 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 33 kt	−32 kt	-3 °C	152 kt	2 h 50 min	11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 32 kt	−31 kt	-6 °C	151 kt	2 h 51 min	11:39 pm EDT (03:39 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 31 kt	−31 kt	-7 °C	151 kt	2 h 51 min	11:39 pm EDT (03:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 32 kt	−32 kt	-19 °C	152 kt	2 h 50 min	11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 43 kt	−43 kt	-34 °C	163 kt	2 h 39 min	11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-41 °C	164 kt	2 h 38 min	11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 35 kt	−35 kt	-49 °C	155 kt	2 h 47 min	11:35 pm EDT (03:35 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
STL	used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line	210/13	260/16 17°	270/21 10°	280/24 5°	310/20 -7°	320/22 -18°	320/44 -33°	320/59 -43°	310/69 -51°
CGI	used from 49 nm out; 46 nm from the line	250/10	290/12 17°	290/18 11°	300/22 5°	320/25 -8°	330/30 -18°	320/53 -33°	320/66 -42°	320/56 -50°
EVV	used from 98 nm out; 53 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
BNA	used from 147 nm out; 51 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
TYS	used from 294 nm out; 63 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
ATL	used from 343 nm out; 62 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°

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
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL	departure	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	412 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
SAR Sparta, IL	29 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	537 ft	00:35 UTC
MWA Marion, IL	69 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	471 ft	00:35 UTC
GDA Marion, KY	118 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	652 ft	23:35 UTC
HVC Hopkinsville, KY	167 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	563 ft	00:35 UTC
CKV Clarksville, TN	176 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	549 ft	23:52 UTC
MQY Smyrna, TN	235 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	23:56 UTC
RNC Mc Minnville, TN	265 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 100 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	100 ft	1,031 ft	00:35 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	314 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	2,300 ft	682 ft	23:53 UTC
JZP Jasper, GA	373 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				1,535 ft
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	402 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, scattered clouds at 3,300 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	23:56 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,600 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,600 ft	812 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,535 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At AHN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)

Wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for AHN

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for CPS, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist
From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 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

6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 3 nm from the route, 216 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME

Daylight

Sunset at CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC), at AHN 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AHN is after sunset there (7:04 pm EDT (23:04 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Athens/Ben Epps Airport.