Wilmington International to Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International ILM → ATL
327 nautical miles (376 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 3 h at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 2:33 am EDT (06:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ILM is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots; ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 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: 2,741 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 ILM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. At the destination end, 35 nm southwest 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
- E145 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm north, 8:38 pm EDT (00:38 UTC): a broken layer from 1,800 ft to 3,000 ft. At the departure 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
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm west, 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. At the destination end, 45 nm west 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
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 5 forecast points nearest it (ILM, FLO, CAE, GSP, ATL). 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 | 310° at 20 kt | +12 kt | 108 kt | 3 h 02 min | 2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +11 kt | 12 °C | 109 kt | 3 h | 2:33 am EDT (06:33 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +13 kt | 10 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 03 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 25 kt | +18 kt | 7 °C | 102 kt | 3 h 12 min | 2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 26 kt | +23 kt | 5 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 22 min | 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 29 kt | +26 kt | 1 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 29 min | 3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 31 kt | +30 kt | -3 °C | 90 kt | 3 h 38 min | 3:11 am EDT (07:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 34 kt | +33 kt | -6 °C | 87 kt | 3 h 46 min | 3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 39 kt | +39 kt | -18 °C | 81 kt | 4 h 02 min | 3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 41 kt | +41 kt | -32 °C | 79 kt | 4 h 08 min | 3:41 am EDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 46 kt | +44 kt | -40 °C | 76 kt | 4 h 18 min | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 39 kt | +38 kt | -50 °C | 82 kt | 3 h 59 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILM | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| FLO | used from 50 nm out; 16 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° |
| CAE | used from 149 nm out; 13 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° |
| GSP | used from 198 nm out; 62 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° |
| ATL | used from 248 nm out; 55 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILM Wilmington, NC | departure | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
| CRE North Myrtle Beach, SC | 40 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MAO Marion, SC | 69 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 92 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 89 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | 159 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| AIK Aiken, SC | 188 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 528 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| HQU Thomson, GA | 238 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 501 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 268 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 297 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| ATL Atlanta, GA | destination | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ATL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:33 am EDT (06:33 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ATL
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ILM, the departure
- 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
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 ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC), at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ATL is before sunrise there (7:39 am EDT (11:39 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: Wilmington International, Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International.