Piedmont Triad International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International GSO → SDF
304 nautical miles (350 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 296°, about 304° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GSO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots; SDF is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 1,053 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 98 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 29 to 108 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 49 to 196 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 245 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 GSO.
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (ROA, TRI, LOU). 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 | 330° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 11 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 02 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +20 kt | 12 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 02 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +21 kt | 9 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 04 min | 6:44 am EDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | +22 kt | 5 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 06 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | +22 kt | 2 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 06 min | 6:46 am EDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | +24 kt | -2 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 10 min | 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | +26 kt | -5 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 14 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 32 kt | +27 kt | -8 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 16 min | 6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | +30 kt | -19 °C | 90 kt | 3 h 23 min | 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -33 °C | 83 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:20 am EDT (11:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 48 kt | +43 kt | -40 °C | 77 kt | 3 h 57 min | 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 40 kt | +36 kt | -48 °C | 84 kt | 3 h 37 min | 7:17 am EDT (11:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | used from 0 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 49 nm out; 53 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° | |
| LOU | used from 196 nm out; 81 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSO Greensboro, NC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 925 ft | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC) |
| MWK Mount Airy, NC | 39 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,200 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| GEV Jefferson, NC | 69 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 3,177 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| VJI Abingdon, VA | 108 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the west (260°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 2,087 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 137 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 2,684 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 176 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,256 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 255 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 979 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| BRY Bardstown, KY | 284 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | none | 669 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 500 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,177 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC)
Wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for GSO, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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 GSO 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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: Piedmont Triad International, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.