Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International CVG → MSY
610 nautical miles (702 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 209°, about 215° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CVG is low IFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots; MSY is VFR, wind calm. 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: 845 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 250 nm of 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 CVG.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 (CVG, LOU, BNA, HSV, BHM, 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 14 kt | −5 kt | 125 kt | 4 h 53 min | 7:19 am CDT (12:19 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −8 kt | 16 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 46 min | 7:12 am CDT (12:12 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −9 kt | 12 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 44 min | 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 8 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 39 min | 7:05 am CDT (12:05 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 19 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 37 min | 7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 1 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 39 min | 7:05 am CDT (12:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −9 kt | -3 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 44 min | 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 21 kt | −8 kt | -6 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 46 min | 7:12 am CDT (12:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 28 kt | −15 kt | -17 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 31 min | 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 46 kt | −22 kt | -32 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 18 min | 6:44 am CDT (11:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 54 kt | −27 kt | -41 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 09 min | 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 41 kt | −25 kt | -50 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 12 min | 6:38 am CDT (11:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG | used from 0 nm out; 25 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 50 nm out; 20 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° |
| BNA | used from 150 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| HSV | used from 250 nm out; 35 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 350 nm out; 75 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° |
| JAN | used from 400 nm out; 75 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 550 nm out; 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG Covington, KY | departure | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 0.75 mi | 200 ft | 896 ft | 3:12 am EDT (07:12 UTC) |
| FFT Frankfort, KY | 50 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 812 ft | 06:53 UTC | |
| LOU Louisville, KY | 70 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 545 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| XNX Gallatin, TN | 180 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 583 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | 200 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 599 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| MSL Muscle Shoals, AL | 290 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 550 ft | 07:18 UTC |
| HAB Hamilton, AL | 340 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 436 ft | ||||
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 390 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| MEI Meridian, MS | 450 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 06:58 UTC |
| PIB Hattiesburg-Laurel, MS | 510 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| HDC Hammond, LA | 580 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 46 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| MSY New Orleans, LA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 896 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MSY
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CVG, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 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-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 8 nm from the route, 190 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSY is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.