George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Philadelphia International IAH → PHL
1,150 nautical miles (1,323 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 054°, about 051° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 3,824 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). Over the route from 740 to 890 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 780 to 910 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 850 to 1030 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, at the destination end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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
Not fetched just now.
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 14 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, SHV, JAN, BHM, HSV, BNA, TYS, TRI, CRW, 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 | 290° at 9 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 9 h 08 min | 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 11 kt | −3 kt | 11 °C | 123 kt | 9 h 21 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 13 kt | −1 kt | 12 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 30 min | 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | 0 | 9 °C | 120 kt | 9 h 35 min | 7:38 pm EDT (23:38 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | 0 | 6 °C | 120 kt | 9 h 35 min | 7:38 pm EDT (23:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −1 kt | 2 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 30 min | 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −2 kt | -2 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 26 min | 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −3 kt | -6 °C | 123 kt | 9 h 21 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 22 kt | −3 kt | -7 °C | 123 kt | 9 h 21 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 23 kt | −3 kt | -18 °C | 123 kt | 9 h 21 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 36 kt | −4 kt | -32 °C | 124 kt | 9 h 16 min | 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 40 kt | −4 kt | -40 °C | 124 kt | 9 h 16 min | 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 35 kt | −5 kt | -50 °C | 125 kt | 9 h 12 min | 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 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; 39 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; 61 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° |
| SHV | used from 150 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| JAN | used from 200 nm out; 87 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; 90 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; 43 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° |
| BNA | used from 550 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| TYS | used from 600 nm out; 50 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 700 nm out; 41 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° | |
| CRW | used from 800 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| ROA | used from 850 nm out; 39 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 900 nm out; 43 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 1000 nm out; 90 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 1050 nm out; 99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAH Houston, TX | departure | no report just now | 95 ft | ||||
| JAS Jasper, TX | 90 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 212 ft | ||||
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 160 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 88 ft | ||||
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 340 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 162 ft | ||||
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 420 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 346 ft | ||||
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 520 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 628 ft | ||||
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 670 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 986 ft | ||||
| LNP Wise, VA | 770 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,684 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 880 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,301 ft | ||||
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 1030 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 389 ft | ||||
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 1130 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 79 ft | ||||
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | destination | no report just now | 35 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC)
PHL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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, 1040 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 4 nm from the route, 1050 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, 1080 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHL is after sunset there (6:26 pm EDT (22:26 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Philadelphia International.