Plan a flight · Sun 9:05 pm EDT (01:05 UTC)

Wilmington International to William P Hobby Airport ILM → HOU

926 nautical miles (1,066 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 257°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 4:26 am CDT (09:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ILM is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots, gusting to 19; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 7 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 418 to 538 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 ILM.

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

A21N at 33,000 ft, 11 nm south, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 488 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC360030/TM 2251/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
30 nm north (360°) of MVC
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B737 at 26,000 ft, 37 nm southeast, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 508 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC/TM 2319/FL260/TP B737/TB CONS MOD CHOP 260-280/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
over MVC
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B789 at 27,000 ft, 42 nm southeast, 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 817 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
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
B738 at 36,000 ft, 48 nm south, 6:24 pm EDT (22:24 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV ILM186054/TM 2224/FL360/TP B738/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
54 nm south (186°) of ILM
Time
22:24 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
PA32 at 4,000 ft, 27 nm north, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): light chop turbulence. 70 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FLO UA /OV DLC/TM 2211/FL040/TP PA32/SK BASES040/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FLO
Where
over DLC
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Sky
BASES040
Turbulence
light chop
SR22 at 8,000 ft, 41 nm north, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. 80 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
PA32 at 7,000 ft, 18 nm north, 8:17 pm EDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. 189 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
C525 at 2,300 ft, 7 nm southwest, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): light turbulence, scattered clouds above 2,300 ft. 199 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV AGS090006/TM 2215/FL023/TP C525/SK SCT 023/TB LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
6 nm east (090°) of AGS
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C525
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,300 ft
Turbulence
light turbulence
CRJ9 descending, 5 nm southeast, 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth ride on final runway 26. 209 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV AGS 080002/TM 2306/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH RIDE ON FINAL RWY26
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
2 nm east (080°) of AGS
Time
23:06 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth ride on final runway 26
B752 descending, 45 nm north, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 329 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 45 nm north, 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 329 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
B737 at 38,000 ft, 16 nm north, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 398 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 33 nm north, 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. 518 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1770 3230N 08800W 2255 F340 349/061KT TB CONT LGT CHOP CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

6 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (ILM, FLO, CAE, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB, JAN, MSY, LCH, HOU). 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	290° at 11 kt	+10 kt		110 kt	8 h 25 min	4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	+9 kt	15 °C	111 kt	8 h 21 min	4:26 am CDT (09:26 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 16 kt	+13 kt	12 °C	107 kt	8 h 39 min	4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	+16 kt	9 °C	104 kt	8 h 54 min	4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 21 kt	+19 kt	6 °C	101 kt	9 h 10 min	5:15 am CDT (10:15 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	+20 kt	2 °C	100 kt	9 h 16 min	5:21 am CDT (10:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 23 kt	+21 kt	-2 °C	99 kt	9 h 21 min	5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 23 kt	+21 kt	-5 °C	99 kt	9 h 21 min	5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-16 °C	95 kt	9 h 45 min	5:50 am CDT (10:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 29 kt	+26 kt	-32 °C	94 kt	9 h 51 min	5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 27 kt	+24 kt	-41 °C	96 kt	9 h 39 min	5:44 am CDT (10:44 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 28 kt	+24 kt	-51 °C	96 kt	9 h 39 min	5:44 am CDT (10:44 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	230/27	220/35 14°	230/45 13°	230/48 8°	240/59 -4°	230/57 -14°	220/66 -30°	210/66 -40°	210/59 -52°
FLO	used from 50 nm out; 21 nm from the line	240/25	270/23 11°	250/36 10°	240/38 7°	240/50 -4°	230/66 -15°	220/75 -30°	210/77 -40°	220/73 -52°
CAE	used from 149 nm out; 23 nm from the line	260/27	310/26 11°	280/31 9°	270/36 7°	250/39 -4°	230/57 -16°	220/74 -30°	220/83 -40°	220/73 -51°
ATL	used from 249 nm out; 67 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
CSG	used from 349 nm out; 14 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
MGM	used from 398 nm out; 19 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
MOB	used from 498 nm out; 77 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -50°
JAN	used from 598 nm out; 56 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°
MSY	used from 647 nm out; 73 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -52°
LCH	used from 747 nm out; 46 nm from the line	190/6	180/8 18°	170/13 12°	220/12 7°	290/10 -4°	280/15 -14°	320/30 -31°	320/32 -40°	320/39 -53°
HOU	used from 847 nm out; 55 nm from the line	160/18	160/14 17°	180/19 12°	190/11 8°	260/12 -4°	260/14 -13°	310/26 -30°	310/30 -40°	320/21 -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
ILM Wilmington, NC	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	3,900 ft	31 ft	8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC)
FLO Florence, SC	90 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	146 ft	00:53 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	159 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	00:56 UTC
AGS Augusta, GA	209 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	145 ft	00:53 UTC
CSG Columbus, GA	368 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	397 ft	00:51 UTC
AUO Auburn, AL	388 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	776 ft	05:21 UTC
SEM Selma, AL	468 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
LUL Laurel, MS	588 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	238 ft	00:55 UTC
MCB Mc Comb, MS	657 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	413 ft	00:53 UTC
CWF Lake Charles, LA	807 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	16 ft	00:55 UTC
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	856 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	00:53 UTC
HOU Houston, TX	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 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 HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:26 am CDT (09:26 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 VFR

The whole forecast for HOU

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

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 HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HOU is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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: Wilmington International, William P Hobby Airport.