Fort Wayne International to Charleston Afb/Intl Airport FWA → CHS
544 nautical miles (626 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 151°, about 157° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FWA is IFR, wind from the south (180°) at 3 knots; CHS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 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 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 336 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 218 to 336 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 297 to 376 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 307 to 426 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 FWA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. At the departure end, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
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 7 forecast points nearest it (FWA, CVG, CRW, TRI, GSP, CAE, CHS). 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 | 320° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 3 h 58 min | 6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 11 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 51 min | 6:49 am EDT (10:49 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 11 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 48 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 8 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 45 min | 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 5 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 47 min | 6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −24 kt | 1 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 47 min | 6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | −25 kt | -3 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 45 min | 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 29 kt | −26 kt | -6 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 44 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 29 kt | −26 kt | -7 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 44 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 34 kt | −31 kt | -19 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 36 min | 6:34 am EDT (10:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | −32 kt | -34 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 35 min | 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 42 kt | −36 kt | -40 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 29 min | 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 37 kt | −32 kt | -49 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 35 min | 6:33 am EDT (10:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CVG | used from 49 nm out; 52 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 198 nm out; 76 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 247 nm out; 30 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 346 nm out; 48 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 396 nm out; 49 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° |
| CHS | used from 495 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | departure | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 814 ft | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC) |
| PLD Portland, IN | 30 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: haze | calm | 0.25 mi | 300 ft | 925 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| DAY Dayton, OH | 79 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,009 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 109 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 1,076 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 178 nm out, 13 nm southwest 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 |
| LNP Wise, VA | 267 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | 400 ft | 2,684 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 297 nm out, 11 nm southwest 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 Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 366 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | 396 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | 465 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| MKS Moncks Corner, SC | 524 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 74 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| CHS Charleston, SC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 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 CHS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CHS
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for FWA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, a broken layer at 500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 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 19 nm from the route, 119 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at FWA 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CHS is before sunrise there (7:21 am EDT (11:21 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: Fort Wayne International, Charleston Afb/Intl Airport.