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 2 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC). Right now GSO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 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: 1,053 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 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 108 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 29 to 88 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 49 to 206 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). Over the last 235 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
- BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 31 nm south, 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC): remarks: mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28. 29 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV BZM100026/TM 1057/FL350/TP BCS3/RM MOUNTAIN WAVE +/- 10KTS ZTLFD 28
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 26 nm east (100°) of BZM
- Time
- 10:57 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Remarks
- mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28
- CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 6:10 am EDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 118 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- booie
- Time
- 10:10 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
- PC12 at 17,000 ft, 44 nm north, 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. 255 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 35 nm north (360°) of HYK
- Time
- 11:01 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- lil dark
- E170 at 1,100 ft, 13 nm northeast, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 255 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
- E170 at 100 ft, 13 nm northeast, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 255 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- in the clouds on rotation
- CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 18 nm northeast, 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 255 nm along the route, 18 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
- Time
- 09:37 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- scattered clouds from 100 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 | +19 kt | 11 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 01 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 01 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +18 kt | 7 °C | 102 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +18 kt | 4 °C | 102 kt | 2 h 59 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +22 kt | 0 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 06 min | 10:31 am EDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 12 min | 10:37 am EDT (14:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 33 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 16 min | 10:41 am EDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 37 kt | +32 kt | -19 °C | 88 kt | 3 h 27 min | 10:52 am EDT (14:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 44 kt | +35 kt | -33 °C | 85 kt | 3 h 35 min | 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 54 kt | +46 kt | -42 °C | 74 kt | 4 h 06 min | 11:31 am EDT (15:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 45 kt | +43 kt | -50 °C | 77 kt | 3 h 57 min | 11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| TRI | used from 49 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| LOU | used from 196 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSO Greensboro, NC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 925 ft | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| MWK Mount Airy, NC | 39 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet | variable at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 1,268 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| GEV Jefferson, NC | 69 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 3,177 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| VJI Abingdon, VA | 108 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 1,300 ft | 2,087 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 137 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 4 mi | 200 ft | 2,684 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 176 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 600 ft | 1,256 ft | 11:35 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 255 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| BRY Bardstown, KY | 284 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | none | 669 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | none | 500 ft | 6:56 am EDT (10:56 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, 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, 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 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 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)).
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.