Tri-State/Milton J Ferguson Field to Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport HTS → VPS
512 nautical miles (590 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 204°, about 210° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HTS is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots; VPS is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 6 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: 58 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 first 246 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 246 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 227 to 246 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 246 to 256 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 HTS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (CRW, TRI, TYS, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB). 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 | −13 kt | 11 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 51 min | 6:55 am CDT (11:55 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −18 kt | 13 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 43 min | 6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −22 kt | 10 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 36 min | 6:40 am CDT (11:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | −21 kt | 7 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 38 min | 6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 43 min | 6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | −17 kt | 0 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 44 min | 6:48 am CDT (11:48 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 30 kt | −16 kt | -4 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 46 min | 6:50 am CDT (11:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 31 kt | −15 kt | -7 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 48 min | 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | −15 kt | -18 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 48 min | 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 49 kt | −30 kt | -33 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 25 min | 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 50 kt | −30 kt | -40 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 25 min | 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 40 kt | −23 kt | -49 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 35 min | 6:39 am CDT (11:39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRW | used from 0 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 49 nm out; 59 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° | |
| TYS | used from 99 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| ATL | used from 246 nm out; 38 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° |
| CSG | used from 345 nm out; 30 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° |
| MGM | used from 394 nm out; 35 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° |
| MOB | used from 493 nm out; 92 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTS Huntington, WV | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 828 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
| SJS Prestonsburg, KY | 39 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,221 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 69 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet | calm | 7 mi | 2,900 ft | 1,256 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| MOR Morristown, TN | 138 nm out, 17 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 1,312 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 168 nm out, 3 nm west 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 |
| JZP Jasper, GA | 256 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,535 ft | ||||
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 276 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 07:50 UTC |
| CTJ Carrollton, GA | 315 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,164 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| AUO Auburn, AL | 374 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 776 ft | 05:21 UTC | |
| TOI Troy, AL | 424 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 397 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CEW Crestview, FL | 493 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 213 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL | destination | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,535 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At VPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
The whole forecast for VPS
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
The forecast for HTS, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 900 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 8,000 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 HTS 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at VPS 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at VPS is before sunrise there (6:46 am CDT (11:46 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: Tri-State/Milton J Ferguson Field, Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport.