Plan a flight · Sun 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)

Wilmington International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International ILM → SDF

446 nautical miles (513 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 314° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ILM is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots; SDF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 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: 3 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 168 to 258 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 208 to 347 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). Over the route from 277 to 396 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

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 238 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
A321 at 30,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 307 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
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, 49 nm south, 6:24 pm EDT (22:24 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 49 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
E75L at 4,000 ft, 10 nm north, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 59 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAY UA /OV KFAY/TM 2245/FL040/TP E75L/SK BASES 045
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAY
Where
over KFAY
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
bases 4,500 ft
PA32 at 4,000 ft, 31 nm southwest, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): light chop turbulence. 69 nm along the route, 31 nm southwest 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, 32 nm southwest, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. 89 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest 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
B763 at 3,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 139 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 43 nm northeast, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 139 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
CRJ7 descending, 33 nm northeast, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 139 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 9 nm southwest, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 188 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
PC24 at 4,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 208 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
90 nm north (005°) of CLT
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Weather
fi s
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
18 final
S22T descending, 6 nm south, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 258 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent RY23 tri
CRJ9 descending, 19 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 396 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018

2 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 5 forecast points nearest it (ILM, FLO, RDU, TRI, LOU). 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 20 kt	+20 kt	11 °C	100 kt	4 h 28 min	1:19 am EDT (05:19 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	+21 kt	11 °C	99 kt	4 h 30 min	1:21 am EDT (05:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 24 kt	+23 kt	10 °C	97 kt	4 h 36 min	1:27 am EDT (05:27 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 24 kt	+23 kt	6 °C	97 kt	4 h 36 min	1:27 am EDT (05:27 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	+22 kt	3 °C	98 kt	4 h 33 min	1:24 am EDT (05:24 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 25 kt	+24 kt	-1 °C	96 kt	4 h 39 min	1:30 am EDT (05:30 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 27 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	4 h 42 min	1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 28 kt	+26 kt	-7 °C	94 kt	4 h 45 min	1:36 am EDT (05:36 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 34 kt	+26 kt	-19 °C	94 kt	4 h 45 min	1:36 am EDT (05:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 41 kt	+21 kt	-31 °C	99 kt	4 h 30 min	1:21 am EDT (05:21 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 41 kt	+16 kt	-39 °C	104 kt	4 h 17 min	1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 37 kt	+19 kt	-49 °C	101 kt	4 h 25 min	1:16 am EDT (05:16 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; 54 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°
RDU	used from 99 nm out; 66 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°
TRI	used from 149 nm out; 84 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
LOU	used from 347 nm out; 73 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°

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: a broken layer at 3,800 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	31 ft	7:53 pm EDT (23:53 UTC)
EYF Elizabethtown, NC	40 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	131 ft	00:35 UTC
FAY Fayetteville, NC	59 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	4,300 ft	189 ft	23:53 UTC
VUJ Albemarle, NC	129 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	609 ft	00:35 UTC
JQF Concord, NC	149 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	704 ft	23:50 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	188 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	23:53 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	258 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	1,518 ft	23:53 UTC
LNP Wise, VA	277 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	3 mi	400 ft	2,684 ft	23:35 UTC
LOZ London, KY	347 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,212 ft	20:18 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	396 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	979 ft	00:31 UTC
BRY Bardstown, KY	426 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	669 ft	23:35 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	500 ft	7:56 pm EDT (23:56 UTC)

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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 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

6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 2 nm from the route, 40 nm along the route · security · ZDC
6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, 79 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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 central Great Lakes · 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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.