Lake Charles Regional to Waco Regional LCH → ACT
225 nautical miles (259 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 294°, about 291° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC). 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
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 LCH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- HELO at 1,700 ft, 28 nm southwest, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): a few clouds above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 29 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BPT UA /OV KBPT160002/TM 1343/FL017/TP HELO/SK FEW020/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through BPT
- Where
- 2 nm south (160°) of KBPT
- Time
- 13:43 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- HELO
- Sky
- a few clouds from 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- E145 at 19,000 ft, 27 nm southwest, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 29 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BPT UA /OV BPT/TM 1302/FL190/TP E145/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through BPT
- Where
- over BPT
- Time
- 13:02 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B36M at 18,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC): light clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 108 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV KIAH355035/TM 1224/FL180/TP B36M/TB LGT CAT/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- 35 nm north (355°) of KIAH
- Time
- 12:24 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B36M
- Turbulence
- light clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zhu
- F2TH at 18,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:20 am CDT (12:20 UTC): no turbulence from 17,300 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zhu. 127 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
UTS UA /OV KLOA30035-KLOA190020/TM 1220/FL180/TP F2TH/TB NEG 290-173/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through UTS
- Where
- KLOA30035-KLOA190020
- Time
- 12:20 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- F2TH
- Turbulence
- no from 29,000 ft to 17,300 ft
- Remarks
- zhu
- B738 at 18,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 6:59 am CDT (11:59 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zhu. 127 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
UTS UA /OV KLOA155020/TM 1159/FL180/TP B738/TB LGT CHOPN 180-230/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through UTS
- Where
- 20 nm southeast (155°) of KLOA
- Time
- 11:59 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chopn from 18,000 ft to 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- zhu
- B738 at 21,000 ft, 40 nm south, 6:48 am CDT (11:48 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: flight level at 19,000 ft FL220 zhu. 166 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CLL UA /OV KTNV200020/TM 1148/FL210/TP B738/TB LGT-MOD/RM FL 190 FL220 ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through CLL
- Where
- 20 nm south (200°) of KTNV
- Time
- 11:48 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- flight level at 19,000 ft FL220 zhu
- B737 at 20,000 ft, 40 nm south, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 166 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CLL UA /OV KTNV/TM 1135/FL200/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through CLL
- Where
- over KTNV
- Time
- 11:35 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- TBM8 at 30,000 ft, 23 nm north, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW62. At the destination end, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ACT UA /OV ACT340020/TM 1343/FL300/TP TBM8/TB NEG/RM ZFW62
- Report
- a routine report filed through ACT
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of ACT
- Time
- 13:43 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM8
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW62
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (LCH, HOU, CLL). 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 | 170° at 22 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 1 h 43 min | 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 170° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 17 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 43 min | 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 170° at 12 kt | −6 kt | 15 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 47 min | 10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 190° at 7 kt | −2 kt | 11 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 51 min | 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 5 kt | +2 kt | 7 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 54 min | 10:58 am CDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 8 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 1 h 56 min | 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 10 kt | +6 kt | -2 °C | 114 kt | 1 h 58 min | 11:02 am CDT (16:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 12 kt | +7 kt | -6 °C | 113 kt | 1 h 59 min | 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 18 kt | +16 kt | -13 °C | 104 kt | 2 h 10 min | 11:14 am CDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -29 °C | 98 kt | 2 h 18 min | 11:22 am CDT (16:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 21 kt | +19 kt | -40 °C | 101 kt | 2 h 14 min | 11:18 am CDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 340° at 35 kt | +23 kt | -51 °C | 97 kt | 2 h 19 min | 11:23 am CDT (16:23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCH | used from 0 nm out; 24 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° |
| HOU | used from 49 nm out; 71 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° |
| CLL | used from 98 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 180/24 | 170/21 19° | 180/10 14° | 230/7 8° | 230/16 -6° | 260/20 -13° | 290/23 -29° | 320/21 -39° | 340/35 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCH Lake Charles, LA | departure | no report just now | 14 ft | ||||
| ORG Orange, TX | 29 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | no report just now | 13 ft | ||||
| BMT Beaumont, TX | 49 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | no report just now | 31 ft | ||||
| UTS Huntsville, TX | 127 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 362 ft | ||||
| LXY Mexia, TX | 196 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 544 ft | ||||
| ACT Waco, TX | destination | no report just now | 516 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 544 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ACT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC)
ACT has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at LCH 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at ACT 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 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: Lake Charles Regional, Waco Regional.