Plan a flight · Sun 10:33 pm EDT (02:33 UTC)

James M Cox Dayton International to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International DAY → MSY

665 nautical miles (765 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 208°, about 214° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 28-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DAY is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots; MSY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 2 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 10 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 DAY.

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

CRJ9 descending, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
A321 at 21,000 ft, 25 nm north, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
E145 climbing, 0 nm north, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B005 T035
B744 climbing, 1 nm northeast, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 50 nm along the route, 1 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
B737 at 23,000 ft, 6 nm east, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 60 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B712 at 600 ft, 37 nm southeast, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 109 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
CRJ9 descending, 37 nm southeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 109 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
B38M at 21,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 9:09 pm EDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 129 nm along the route, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over IIU
Time
01:09 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B739 at 34,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 208 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of BWG
Time
01:51 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B738 at 34,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 7:41 pm EDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 248 nm along the route, 43 nm northwest 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

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	5 h 19 min	2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−10 kt	16 °C	130 kt	5 h 07 min	2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 19 kt	−10 kt	12 °C	130 kt	5 h 07 min	2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−12 kt	8 °C	132 kt	5 h 02 min	2:35 am CDT (07:35 UTC)
12,500 ft	340° at 19 kt	−13 kt	4 °C	133 kt	5 h	2:33 am CDT (07:33 UTC)
14,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−11 kt	0 °C	131 kt	5 h 05 min	2:38 am CDT (07:38 UTC)
16,500 ft	330° at 21 kt	−10 kt	-3 °C	130 kt	5 h 07 min	2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 22 kt	−9 kt	-6 °C	129 kt	5 h 09 min	2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 29 kt	−16 kt	-18 °C	136 kt	4 h 53 min	2:26 am CDT (07:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 47 kt	−24 kt	-33 °C	144 kt	4 h 37 min	2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 55 kt	−28 kt	-41 °C	148 kt	4 h 30 min	2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	330° at 40 kt	−25 kt	-50 °C	145 kt	4 h 35 min	2:08 am CDT (07:08 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; 31 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 99 nm out; 13 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 198 nm out; 32 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 298 nm out; 40 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 397 nm out; 73 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 446 nm out; 81 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 595 nm out; 45 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
DAY Dayton, OH	departure	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	8 mi	1,200 ft	1,009 ft	9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC)
CVG Covington, KY	60 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	896 ft	01:52 UTC
LOU Louisville, KY	119 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Weather: mist	calm	2 mi	none	545 ft	02:26 UTC
BRY Bardstown, KY	139 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	5 mi	none	669 ft	02:15 UTC
BNA Nashville, TN	258 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	599 ft	01:53 UTC
MRC Columbia/Mount Pleasant, TN	298 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	02:10 UTC
MSL Muscle Shoals, AL	347 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	550 ft	01:53 UTC
GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS	436 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	264 ft	01:56 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	506 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	01:58 UTC
PIB Hattiesburg-Laurel, MS	565 nm out, 6 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	01:56 UTC
HDC Hammond, LA	635 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	46 ft	02:15 UTC
MSY New Orleans, LA	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	3 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,009 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, 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSY

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 2 nm from the route, 60 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 6 nm from the route, 238 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME

Daylight

Sunset at DAY 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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

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: James M Cox Dayton International, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.