Plan a flight · Sun 9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC)

George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Newport News/Williamsburg International IAH → PHF

1,034 nautical miles (1,189 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 23-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots; PHF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 10 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 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 596 to 716 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 646 to 875 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). Near the route, 964 nm along 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 IAH.

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

B39M at 27,000 ft, 2 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 2 nm south 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, 48 nm southeast, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 109 nm along the route, 48 nm southeast 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, 14 nm southeast, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 41,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 229 nm along the route, 14 nm southeast 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
E170 at 33,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 557 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
45 nm west (280°) of ATL
Time
01:53 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
BCS3 at 600 ft, 34 nm north, 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
00:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
bases 600 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 10 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, JAN, BHM, ATL, TYS, GSP, RDU, RIC, ORF). 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	280° at 12 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	7 h 54 min	6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 11 kt	−8 kt		128 kt	8 h 05 min	6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	−8 kt	13 °C	128 kt	8 h 05 min	6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−9 kt	10 °C	129 kt	8 h 01 min	6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−8 kt	7 °C	128 kt	8 h 05 min	6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−11 kt	3 °C	131 kt	7 h 54 min	6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	−14 kt	-1 °C	134 kt	7 h 43 min	6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	−17 kt	-5 °C	137 kt	7 h 33 min	6:08 am EDT (10:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 22 kt	−17 kt	-6 °C	137 kt	7 h 33 min	6:08 am EDT (10:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 26 kt	−22 kt	-17 °C	142 kt	7 h 17 min	5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 33 kt	−23 kt	-31 °C	143 kt	7 h 14 min	5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 35 kt	−23 kt	-40 °C	143 kt	7 h 14 min	5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 31 kt	−16 kt	-51 °C	136 kt	7 h 36 min	6:11 am EDT (10:11 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; 37 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; 53 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°
JAN	used from 199 nm out; 81 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°
BHM	used from 398 nm out; 66 nm from the line	310/19	330/20 17°	320/28 11°	340/21 6°	310/22 -7°	330/33 -17°	330/50 -32°	330/57 -41°	330/41 -50°
ATL	used from 547 nm out; 59 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°
TYS	used from 646 nm out; 57 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°
GSP	used from 696 nm out; 28 nm from the line	320/22	340/19 13°	320/18 8°	310/24 5°	300/34 -7°	300/36 -18°	290/30 -33°	300/32 -39°	320/42 -49°
RDU	used from 795 nm out; 90 nm from the line	280/33	300/23 11°	300/28 8°	290/28 4°	260/41 -6°	240/52 -18°	230/66 -31°	230/76 -39°	240/52 -49°
RIC	used from 944 nm out; 49 nm from the line	270/23	280/19 11°	270/18 8°	240/22 4°	230/39 -7°	220/55 -18°	220/75 -30°	230/83 -39°	230/64 -50°
ORF	used from 994 nm out; 34 nm from the line	250/24	230/32 11°	220/37 10°	220/37 6°	230/47 -5°	230/62 -17°	220/89 -30°	220/93 -40°	230/77 -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
IAH Houston, TX	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	95 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
JAS Jasper, TX	89 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	212 ft	02:15 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	169 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	88 ft	01:53 UTC
HKS Jackson, MS	298 nm out, 0 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	341 ft	01:53 UTC
GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS	398 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	264 ft	01:56 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	487 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	01:53 UTC
GAD Gadsden, AL	527 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	569 ft	15:56 UTC
DZJ Blairsville, GA	646 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	4 mi	900 ft	1,906 ft	02:15 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	785 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	01:53 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	855 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	925 ft	01:54 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	964 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
PHF Newport News, VA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: light rain	from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots	8 mi	3,200 ft	42 ft	10:18 pm EDT (02:18 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,906 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PHF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC)

Wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet IFR

The whole forecast for PHF

From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
At times between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 2 miles, rain showers
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for IAH, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-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 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 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 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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 IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at PHF 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHF is before sunrise there (7:10 am EDT (11:10 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Newport News/Williamsburg International.