The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC)

Lake Charles Regional to Indianapolis International LCH → IND

669 nautical miles (770 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 029°, about 026° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:55 pm EDT (17:55 UTC). Right now LCH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots; IND is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 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: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the route from 50 to 120 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 last 60 nm of the route.

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

  • B737 at 36,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 6:14 am CDT (11:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 509 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    EVV UA /OV PXV225030/TM 1114/FL360/TP B737/TB NEG/RM ZME33
    Report
    a routine report filed through EVV
    Where
    30 nm southwest (225°) of PXV
    Time
    11:14 UTC
    Height
    at 36,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Turbulence
    none
    Remarks
    ZME33
  • E550 at 8,700 ft, 6 nm east, 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 549 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through EVV
    Where
    over EVV
    Time
    10:30 UTC
    Height
    at 8,700 ft
    Aircraft
    E550
    Sky
    clear
    Remarks
    visual conditions clear during the climb
  • B763 at 26,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 579 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    EVV UA /OV OWB360045/TM 1157/FL260/TP B763/TB NEG/IC NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through EVV
    Where
    45 nm north (360°) of OWB
    Time
    11:57 UTC
    Height
    at 26,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B763
    Turbulence
    none
    Icing
    none
  • B38M at 32,000 ft, 41 nm north, 6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 41 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MZZ UA /OV MZZ240015/TM 1103/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT
    Report
    a routine report filed through MZZ
    Where
    15 nm southwest (240°) of MZZ
    Time
    11:03 UTC
    Height
    at 32,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Turbulence
    continuous light

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 7 forecast points nearest it (LCH, SHV, JAN, MEM, CGI, EVV, IND). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft240° at 16 kt−13 kt133 kt5 h 02 min1:55 pm EDT (17:55 UTC)
5,500 ft250° at 14 kt−11 kt131 kt5 h 06 min1:59 pm EDT (17:59 UTC)
7,500 ft250° at 13 kt−10 kt14 °C130 kt5 h 09 min2:02 pm EDT (18:02 UTC)
9,500 ft250° at 12 kt−9 kt10 °C129 kt5 h 11 min2:04 pm EDT (18:04 UTC)
11,500 ft260° at 12 kt−8 kt7 °C128 kt5 h 14 min2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)
13,500 ft270° at 14 kt−8 kt3 °C128 kt5 h 14 min2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)
15,500 ft270° at 17 kt−8 kt-1 °C128 kt5 h 14 min2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)
17,500 ft280° at 20 kt−8 kt-5 °C128 kt5 h 14 min2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180280° at 21 kt−8 kt-6 °C128 kt5 h 14 min2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240280° at 24 kt−7 kt-17 °C127 kt5 h 16 min2:09 pm EDT (18:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300300° at 34 kt−1 kt-31 °C121 kt5 h 32 min2:25 pm EDT (18:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340300° at 43 kt+3 kt-41 °C117 kt5 h 43 min2:36 pm EDT (18:36 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390310° at 44 kt+10 kt-51 °C110 kt6 h 05 min2:58 pm EDT (18:58 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
LCHused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line170/21160/23 18°170/13 13°170/6 8°300/12 -7°280/16 -14°320/27 -30°330/23 -41°340/38 -51°
SHVused from 100 nm out; 95 nm from the line210/20210/20 18°230/20 11°240/16 7°270/17 -7°250/11 -15°300/34 -30°310/34 -40°320/36 -51°
JANused from 150 nm out; 78 nm from the line240/10260/15 18°280/10 11°290/6 6°290/15 -5°300/15 -17°320/35 -30°330/38 -40°330/39 -51°
MEMused from 250 nm out; 63 nm from the line250/19260/19 17°270/20 12°270/16 6°270/21 -6°290/27 -17°300/37 -30°300/49 -40°310/40 -51°
CGIused from 399 nm out; 64 nm from the line260/22250/15 15°250/13 11°250/16 6°270/29 -7°280/30 -18°290/40 -31°290/55 -40°300/51 -51°
EVVused from 499 nm out; 29 nm from the line270/25290/17 15°260/10 8°270/16 5°280/29 -6°280/33 -19°290/38 -33°300/53 -41°310/54 -51°
INDused from 599 nm out; 45 nm from the line270/22290/19 15°270/19 8°270/18 4°290/28 -7°280/35 -20°270/37 -34°300/51 -42°300/61 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
LCH Lake Charles, LA departure VFR from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 14 ft 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC)
ACP Oakdale, LA 50 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 107 ft 12:35 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA 80 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 100 feet from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots 8 mi none 88 ft 12:33 UTC
MLU Monroe, LA 160 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower VFR calm 9 mi none 78 ft 11:53 UTC
GLH Greenville, MS 230 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 130 ft 11:53 UTC
CKM Clarksdale, MS 289 nm out, 5 nm west of the line VFR from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 173 ft 12:35 UTC
MEM Memphis, TN 339 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet calm 10+ mi none 340 ft 11:54 UTC
UCY Union City, TN 429 nm out, 3 nm north of the line IFR Weather: mist calm 2 mi none 345 ft 12:35 UTC
PAH Paducah, KY 469 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 410 ft 11:53 UTC
EVV Evansville, IN 549 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 421 ft 11:54 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN 629 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower VFR calm 7 mi none 845 ft 11:53 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 23,000 ft 796 ft 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 845 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At IND when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:55 pm EDT (17:55 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for IND
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LCH, the departure
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 LCH 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at IND 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:37 pm EDT (23:37 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 lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Lake Charles Regional, Indianapolis International.