Plan a flight · Sun 8:49 pm CDT (01:49 UTC)

Drake Field to Columbia Metro Airport FYV → CAE

653 nautical miles (752 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 097°, about 095° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FYV is VFR, wind calm; 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 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 465 to 564 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 535 to 574 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 FYV.

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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 29 nm south, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 297 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through TUP
Where
41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
BE40
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
zme
C750 at 43,000 ft, 41 nm south, 7:50 pm CDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 109 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LIT
Where
25 nm north (360°) of LIT
Time
00:50 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
Remarks
zme
A319 at 39,000 ft, 29 nm south, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 208 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through MEM
Where
over MEM
Time
23:11 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
smooth
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 36 nm north, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 238 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B38M at 25,000 ft, 44 nm north, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 277 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
B712 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm north, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 446 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
5 nm south (180°) of CHA
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
SCT030-TOP032 C
CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 17 nm north, 5:51 pm CDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 446 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
wind from 090° at 5 knots
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
PA32 at 7,000 ft, 15 nm south, 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. 624 nm along the route, 15 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
CRJ9 descending, 43 nm south, 6:06 pm CDT (23:06 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth ride on final runway 26. 624 nm along the route, 43 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

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 7 forecast points nearest it (FSM, LIT, MEM, HSV, 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	280° at 14 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	4 h 52 min	2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	−17 kt		137 kt	4 h 46 min	2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	−20 kt	13 °C	140 kt	4 h 40 min	2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 24 kt	−23 kt	10 °C	143 kt	4 h 34 min	2:23 am EDT (06:23 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 27 kt	−26 kt	6 °C	146 kt	4 h 28 min	2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 27 kt	−26 kt	2 °C	146 kt	4 h 28 min	2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-1 °C	145 kt	4 h 30 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-5 °C	145 kt	4 h 30 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 26 kt	−24 kt	-6 °C	144 kt	4 h 32 min	2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-18 °C	145 kt	4 h 30 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 36 kt	−34 kt	-32 °C	154 kt	4 h 14 min	2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 37 kt	−34 kt	-41 °C	154 kt	4 h 14 min	2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 32 kt	−30 kt	-50 °C	150 kt	4 h 21 min	2:10 am EDT (06:10 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
FSM	used from 0 nm out; 50 nm from the line	200/18	210/19 15°	230/22 13°	250/18 7°	270/20 -5°	280/24 -16°	280/35 -30°	290/37 -40°	300/40 -52°
LIT	used from 50 nm out; 70 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°
MEM	used from 149 nm out; 47 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
HSV	used from 297 nm out; 54 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°
ATL	used from 446 nm out; 63 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 545 nm out; 46 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 594 nm out; 35 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
FYV Fayetteville, AR	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,252 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
HRO Harrison, AR	50 nm out, 22 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,364 ft	00:53 UTC
BVX Batesville, AR	129 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	465 ft	00:56 UTC
JBR Jonesboro, AR	168 nm out, 14 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	262 ft	00:53 UTC
NQA Millington, TN	218 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	322 ft	23:50 UTC
SNH Savannah, TN	297 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	472 ft	01:35 UTC
HSV Huntsville, AL	366 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	628 ft	00:53 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	446 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	682 ft	00:53 UTC
DNN Dalton, GA	465 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,200 ft	709 ft	23:35 UTC
AJR Cornelia, GA	525 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots	7 mi	none	1,447 ft	01:35 UTC
GRD Greenwood, SC	594 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	631 ft	00:56 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 1,447 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, 2:03 am EDT (06:03 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 FYV, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,500 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at FYV 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 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 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: Drake Field, Columbia Metro Airport.