Plan a flight · Sun 8:22 pm CDT (01:22 UTC)

Dallas-Fort Worth International to Columbia Metro Airport DFW → CAE

799 nautical miles (920 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 081°, about 077° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DFW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 7 knots; CAE is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 2,079 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 460 to 560 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 639 to 659 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Near the route, 699 nm along 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 DFW.

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

A320 at 26,500 ft, 45 nm south, 5:46 pm CDT (22:46 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: ZFW86. 110 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GGG UA /OV GGG/TM 2246/FL265/TP A320/TB MOD CAT/RM ZFW86
```
Report
a routine report filed through GGG
Where
over GGG
Time
22:46 UTC
Height
at 26,500 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
ZFW86
PC12 at 24,000 ft, 12 nm south, 5:28 pm CDT (22:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW28. 270 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LLQ UA /OV 17 S MON/TM 2228/FL240/TP PC12/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZFW28
```
Report
a routine report filed through LLQ
Where
17 south mon
Time
22:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZFW28
B752 descending, 16 nm south, 6:03 pm CDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 630 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 16 nm south, 5:38 pm CDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 630 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
C55B at 3,000 ft, 5 nm north, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 659 nm along the route, 5 nm north 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
CRJ9 descending, 33 nm south, 6:06 pm CDT (23:06 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth ride on final runway 26. 759 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV AGS 080002/TM 2306/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH RIDE ON FINAL RWY26
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
2 nm east (080°) of AGS
Time
23:06 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth ride on final runway 26
PA32 at 7,000 ft, 7 nm south, 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV KAIK360010/TM 0017/FL070/TP PA32/WX FV99SM/TA 8/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
10 nm north (360°) of KAIK
Time
00:17 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Weather
flight visibility 99 miles
Temperature
8 °C
Remarks
smooth

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 8 forecast points nearest it (DAL, SHV, LIT, JAN, BHM, ATL, 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	270° at 11 kt	−12 kt		132 kt	6 h 03 min	3:25 am EDT (07:25 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 14 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	6 h	3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−17 kt	13 °C	137 kt	5 h 50 min	3:12 am EDT (07:12 UTC)
9,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	−20 kt	10 °C	140 kt	5 h 42 min	3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−20 kt	7 °C	140 kt	5 h 42 min	3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	−21 kt	3 °C	141 kt	5 h 40 min	3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	−21 kt	0 °C	141 kt	5 h 40 min	3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 24 kt	−22 kt	-4 °C	142 kt	5 h 38 min	3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 24 kt	−22 kt	-5 °C	142 kt	5 h 38 min	3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 24 kt	−22 kt	-17 °C	142 kt	5 h 38 min	3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 33 kt	−29 kt	-32 °C	149 kt	5 h 22 min	2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 33 kt	−28 kt	-41 °C	148 kt	5 h 24 min	2:46 am EDT (06:46 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 32 kt	−27 kt	-51 °C	147 kt	5 h 26 min	2:48 am EDT (06:48 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
DAL	used from 0 nm out; 17 nm from the line	180/21	190/24 15°	230/20 12°	220/23 8°	240/22 -5°	230/18 -15°	280/33 -29°	280/36 -39°	300/33 -52°
SHV	used from 100 nm out; 59 nm from the line	190/11	230/19 17°	230/26 12°	260/15 7°	280/16 -4°	300/17 -15°	300/34 -30°	300/31 -41°	310/42 -52°
LIT	used from 200 nm out; 82 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
JAN	used from 300 nm out; 80 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°
BHM	used from 400 nm out; 94 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
ATL	used from 600 nm out; 18 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°
GSP	used from 699 nm out; 61 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
CAE	used from 749 nm out; 25 nm from the line	260/27	310/26 11°	280/31 9°	270/36 7°	250/39 -4°	230/57 -16°	220/74 -30°	220/83 -40°	220/73 -51°

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
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	departure	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	606 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
GVT Greenville, TX	50 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	534 ft	23:15 UTC
OSA Mount Pleasant, TX	110 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	2,300 ft	364 ft	15:10 UTC
TXK Texarkana, AR	160 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	389 ft	00:53 UTC
GLH Greenville, MS	310 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	130 ft	00:53 UTC
GWO Greenwood, MS	350 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	162 ft	00:53 UTC
GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS	430 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	264 ft	00:56 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	520 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	00:53 UTC
PDK Atlanta, GA	639 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	998 ft	00:53 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	689 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	812 ft	00:51 UTC
AIK Aiken, SC	769 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	528 ft	01:15 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 998 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, 2:44 am EDT (06:44 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 DFW, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south 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

6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
9/2934 DALLAS, TX 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, 639 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 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

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Dallas-Fort Worth International, Columbia Metro Airport.