James M Cox Dayton International to Columbia Metro Airport DAY → CAE
388 nautical miles (446 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 156°, about 162° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DAY is marginal VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 4 knots; CAE is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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: 5 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 258 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 139 to 268 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 229 to 298 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 239 to 358 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 DAY.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (CVG, CRW, TRI, GSP, CAE). 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 | 330° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 2 h 47 min | 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 11 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 44 min | 3:57 am EDT (07:57 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 11 °C | 144 kt | 2 h 42 min | 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 8 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 39 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 5 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 39 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | −27 kt | 1 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 38 min | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -3 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 37 min | 3:50 am EDT (07:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −29 kt | -7 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 36 min | 3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 31 kt | −30 kt | -8 °C | 150 kt | 2 h 35 min | 3:48 am EDT (07:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 35 kt | −34 kt | -19 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 31 min | 3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 37 kt | −34 kt | -34 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 31 min | 3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 44 kt | −40 kt | -40 °C | 160 kt | 2 h 26 min | 3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 40 kt | −37 kt | -48 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 28 min | 3:41 am EDT (07:41 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; 42 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° |
| CRW | used from 99 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 149 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| GSP | used from 249 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| CAE | used from 348 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY Dayton, OH | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 1,009 ft | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 30 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 900 ft | 1,076 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| AMT West Union, OH | 70 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| SYM Morehead, KY | 109 nm out, 14 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| PBX Pikeville, KY | 159 nm out, 16 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 300 ft | 1,464 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 189 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14 | 4 mi | 400 ft | 2,684 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 219 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FQD Rutherfordton, NC | 288 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| EHO Shelby, NC | 308 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 846 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| FDW Winnsboro, SC | 368 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 577 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | destination | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CAE
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DAY, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 600 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 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 24 nm from the route, 40 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at DAY 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CAE is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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: James M Cox Dayton International, Columbia Metro Airport.