William P Hobby Airport to New Castle Airport HOU → ILG
1,139 nautical miles (1,311 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 053°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC). Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots; ILG is marginal VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 11 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the last 610 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 640 to 999 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 799 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 839 to 1069 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 40 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 HOU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 22 nm north, 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- 20 northwest phl
- Time
- 06:38 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- overcast from 19,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B737 at 800 ft, 6 nm southeast, 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 1079 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- K35R at 400 ft, 33 nm southeast, 2:45 am CDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DOV UA /OV KDOV /TM 0745 /FL 004 /TP K35R /SK OVC004-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through DOV
- Where
- over KDOV
- Time
- 07:45 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- K35R
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft, tops unknown
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 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 11 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, JAN, BHM, HSV, TYS, TRI, ROA, EKN, RIC, ACY). 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 | 300° at 10 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 9 h 02 min | 1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | −2 kt | 11 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 20 min | 2:02 pm EDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 14 kt | 0 | 13 °C | 120 kt | 9 h 30 min | 2:12 pm EDT (18:12 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 17 kt | +1 kt | 9 °C | 119 kt | 9 h 34 min | 2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | +1 kt | 6 °C | 119 kt | 9 h 34 min | 2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | 0 | 2 °C | 120 kt | 9 h 30 min | 2:12 pm EDT (18:12 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −1 kt | -2 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 25 min | 2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −2 kt | -6 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 20 min | 2:02 pm EDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 23 kt | −2 kt | -7 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 20 min | 2:02 pm EDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 24 kt | −3 kt | -18 °C | 123 kt | 9 h 16 min | 1:58 pm EDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 38 kt | −1 kt | -32 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 25 min | 2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 41 kt | −1 kt | -40 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 25 min | 2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 37 kt | −3 kt | -50 °C | 123 kt | 9 h 16 min | 1:58 pm EDT (17:58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 180/22 | 180/20 16° | 170/7 15° | L/V 8° | 220/11 -6° | 260/15 -13° | 310/20 -30° | 320/20 -40° | 350/32 -51° |
| LCH | used from 50 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 170/21 | 160/23 18° | 170/13 13° | 170/6 8° | 300/12 -7° | 280/16 -14° | 320/27 -30° | 330/23 -41° | 340/38 -51° |
| JAN | used from 200 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 240/10 | 260/15 18° | 280/10 11° | 290/6 6° | 290/15 -5° | 300/15 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 330/38 -40° | 330/39 -51° |
| BHM | used from 400 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| HSV | used from 450 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| TYS | used from 600 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| TRI | used from 699 nm out; 45 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° | |
| ROA | used from 849 nm out; 36 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° |
| EKN | used from 949 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 999 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| ACY | used from 1099 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 350/12 | 340/12 11° | 340/12 6° | 340/13 2° | 270/10 -10° | 240/17 -23° | 230/46 -33° | 230/46 -40° | 240/46 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU Houston, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 46 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX | 60 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 170 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HKS Jackson, MS | 310 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 410 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 530 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 679 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,100 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,100 ft | 986 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 769 nm out, 19 nm south 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 | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 889 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 979 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 640 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| IAD Washington, DC | 1039 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 | 4 mi | 1,500 ft | 312 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (360°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 79 ft | 4:37 am EDT (08:37 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ILG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC)
Wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ILG
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for HOU, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 1049 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 1059 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 1089 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at ILG 6:28 pm EDT (22:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 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: William P Hobby Airport, New Castle Airport.