Plan a flight · Sun 9:40 pm CDT (02:40 UTC)

William P Hobby Airport to Wilmington International HOU → ILM

926 nautical miles (1,066 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 065° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 23-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:09 am EDT (09:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots; ILM is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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: 32 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 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 508 to 558 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 HOU.

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

B789 at 27,000 ft, 42 nm southeast, 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 110 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LFT UA /OV LLA270030/TM 0030/FL270/TP B789/TB MOD CAT/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LFT
Where
30 nm west (270°) of LLA
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zhu
CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 33 nm north, 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 568 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
Time
02:00 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
B39M at 27,000 ft, 19 nm north, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
IH340035
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
lt chop during the climb
Remarks
zhu
E75L at 27,000 ft, 14 nm south, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 120 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LCH
Where
LCH08510
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
continuous chop
Remarks
zhu
C510 at 41,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 41,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 239 nm along the route, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HEZ UA /OV HEZ /TM 0218 /FL410 /TP C510 /SK SKC /TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through HEZ
Where
over HEZ
Time
02:18 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
C510
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
PA32 at 7,000 ft, 18 nm north, 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. 737 nm along the route, 18 nm north 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
SR22 at 8,000 ft, 41 nm north, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. 847 nm along the route, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FLO UA /OV BBP/TM 0018/FL080/TP SR22/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM THIN LAYER BELOW BUT CAN SEE LIGHTS FROM THE GROUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through FLO
Where
over BBP
Time
00:18 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
thin layer below but can see lights from the ground
E145 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm north, 7:38 pm CDT (00:38 UTC): a broken layer from 1,800 ft to 3,000 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 0038/FL018/TP E145/SK BKN018-TOP030
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
over ILM
Time
00:38 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
a broken layer from 1,800 ft, tops 3,000 ft

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 11 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, MSY, JAN, MOB, MGM, CSG, ATL, CAE, FLO, ILM). 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 8 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	7 h 17 min	5:57 am EDT (09:57 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 10 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	7 h 24 min	6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 12 kt	−5 kt	14 °C	125 kt	7 h 24 min	6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	−6 kt	10 °C	126 kt	7 h 21 min	6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	7 h 11 min	5:51 am EDT (09:51 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	−12 kt	4 °C	132 kt	7 h 01 min	5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 19 kt	−14 kt	0 °C	134 kt	6 h 55 min	5:35 am EDT (09:35 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	−17 kt	-5 °C	137 kt	6 h 46 min	5:26 am EDT (09:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 22 kt	−18 kt	-6 °C	138 kt	6 h 43 min	5:23 am EDT (09:23 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 27 kt	−23 kt	-16 °C	143 kt	6 h 29 min	5:09 am EDT (09:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 33 kt	−21 kt	-32 °C	141 kt	6 h 34 min	5:14 am EDT (09:14 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 34 kt	−22 kt	-41 °C	142 kt	6 h 31 min	5:11 am EDT (09:11 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 30 kt	−17 kt	-51 °C	137 kt	6 h 46 min	5:26 am EDT (09:26 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
HOU	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	160/22	150/27 19°	180/16 14°	250/7 9°	270/10 -5°	270/16 -13°	310/23 -29°	310/26 -40°	330/20 -52°
LCH	used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line	160/21	160/18 18°	180/13 12°	230/6 8°	280/10 -4°	260/13 -14°	310/29 -30°	320/32 -40°	330/33 -53°
MSY	used from 199 nm out; 78 nm from the line	110/5	150/6 19°	L/V 12°	310/5 7°	310/13 -4°	290/20 -16°	330/36 -31°	330/37 -41°	350/43 -52°
JAN	used from 249 nm out; 65 nm from the line	230/10	270/13 18°	270/11 12°	310/11 6°	300/15 -4°	300/22 -16°	310/33 -31°	320/37 -41°	330/41 -52°
MOB	used from 349 nm out; 67 nm from the line	330/5	330/6 19°	340/6 11°	330/10 7°	320/16 -5°	310/26 -16°	340/40 -32°	340/47 -42°	350/51 -52°
MGM	used from 398 nm out; 61 nm from the line	310/19	340/24 17°	340/28 11°	330/16 7°	300/23 -7°	320/32 -16°	330/46 -33°	330/55 -42°	330/41 -50°
CSG	used from 498 nm out; 38 nm from the line	310/24	340/35 17°	340/37 12°	330/22 8°	310/30 -7°	290/30 -18°	340/57 -32°	340/55 -41°	320/33 -49°
ATL	used from 598 nm out; 49 nm from the line	320/30	330/37 16°	340/44 11°	330/35 7°	310/33 -6°	300/38 -18°	330/58 -33°	330/48 -40°	320/34 -49°
CAE	used from 697 nm out; 48 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°
FLO	used from 797 nm out; 22 nm from the line	300/16	320/14 12°	320/19 7°	290/26 5°	260/39 -6°	250/45 -18°	230/62 -32°	230/83 -40°	230/64 -51°
ILM	used from 896 nm out; 15 nm from the line	270/22	270/23 11°	260/35 10°	240/41 6°	240/49 -5°	240/61 -16°	230/74 -30°	220/79 -40°	230/71 -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
HOU Houston, TX	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	70 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	01:53 UTC
CWF Lake Charles, LA	120 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	16 ft	01:45 UTC
MCB Mc Comb, MS	269 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	413 ft	01:53 UTC
LUL Laurel, MS	339 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	238 ft	02:35 UTC
SEM Selma, AL	458 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37		3,300 ft	166 ft	01:30 UTC
AUO Auburn, AL	538 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	776 ft	05:21 UTC
CSG Columbus, GA	558 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	397 ft	01:51 UTC
AGS Augusta, GA	717 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	145 ft	01:53 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	767 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	01:56 UTC
FLO Florence, SC	837 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	146 ft	01:53 UTC
ILM Wilmington, NC	destination	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	31 ft	9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 776 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ILM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:09 am EDT (09:09 UTC)

Wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ILM

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet

The forecast for HOU, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 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

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 HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ILM is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

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: William P Hobby Airport, Wilmington International.