Plan a flight · Mon 8:06 am EDT (12:06 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Athens/Ben Epps Airport LEX → AHN

253 nautical miles (291 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 165°, about 169° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:36 am EDT (13:36 UTC). Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; AHN is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 195 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 58 to 195 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 175 to 243 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 175 to 234 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 LEX.

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

B739 at 36,000 ft, 37 nm east, 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. 205 nm along the route, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ODF065025/TM 1118/FL360/TP B739/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm northeast (065°) of ODF
Time
11:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ztlfd 36
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 31 nm north, 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. At the departure end, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
35 nm north (360°) of HYK
Time
11:01 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Remarks
lil dark
E170 at 100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm north, 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
C25B at 11,000 ft, 15 nm west, 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC): no turbulence. 29 nm along the route, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV DVK/TM 1123/FL110/TP C25B/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
over DVK
Time
11:23 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Turbulence
none
B712 at 20,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 49. 214 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1117/FL200/TP B712/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 49
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ODF
Time
11:17 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ztlfd 49
A319 at 19,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 49. 214 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1042/FL190/TP A319/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 49
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ODF
Time
10:42 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ztlfd 49

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 4 forecast points nearest it (LOU, TYS, 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
3,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	1 h 48 min	9:54 am EDT (13:54 UTC)
5,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−26 kt		146 kt	1 h 44 min	9:50 am EDT (13:50 UTC)
7,500 ft	350° at 29 kt	−29 kt	12 °C	149 kt	1 h 42 min	9:48 am EDT (13:48 UTC)
9,500 ft	340° at 30 kt	−30 kt	8 °C	150 kt	1 h 41 min	9:47 am EDT (13:47 UTC)
11,500 ft	340° at 27 kt	−27 kt	6 °C	147 kt	1 h 43 min	9:49 am EDT (13:49 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 27 kt	−27 kt	2 °C	147 kt	1 h 43 min	9:49 am EDT (13:49 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 28 kt	−27 kt	-1 °C	147 kt	1 h 43 min	9:49 am EDT (13:49 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 29 kt	−28 kt	-5 °C	148 kt	1 h 43 min	9:49 am EDT (13:49 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 29 kt	−28 kt	-6 °C	148 kt	1 h 43 min	9:49 am EDT (13:49 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-19 °C	153 kt	1 h 39 min	9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 41 kt	−39 kt	-33 °C	159 kt	1 h 35 min	9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 50 kt	−48 kt	-41 °C	168 kt	1 h 30 min	9:36 am EDT (13:36 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 38 kt	−34 kt	-51 °C	154 kt	1 h 39 min	9:45 am EDT (13:45 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
LOU	used from 0 nm out; 66 nm from the line	300/16	310/19 15°	310/17 9°	300/15 4°	300/26 -6°	280/34 -19°	290/30 -34°	310/49 -42°	310/58 -51°
TYS	used from 49 nm out; 64 nm from the line	330/16	350/32 14°	350/37 9°	340/30 5°	330/28 -6°	340/36 -19°	330/40 -33°	330/51 -41°	330/36 -51°
GSP	used from 195 nm out; 67 nm from the line	340/30	360/24 13°	350/29 10°	340/33 6°	340/40 -7°	350/44 -19°	340/59 -31°	350/55 -41°	300/29 -50°
ATL	used from 243 nm out; 59 nm from the line	330/32	340/36 17°	350/34 10°	340/25 6°	330/27 -6°	350/35 -18°	330/49 -32°	340/47 -41°	340/27 -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
LEX Lexington, KY	departure	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	8:02 am EDT (12:02 UTC)
RGA Richmond, KY	29 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	3 mi	200 ft	1,002 ft	11:55 UTC
BYL Williamsburg, KY	78 nm out, 1 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	variable at 4 knots	0.5 mi	200 ft	1,177 ft	11:55 UTC
JAU Jacksboro, TN	107 nm out, 6 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	100 ft	1,179 ft	11:30 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	136 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	low IFR Weather: fog	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	none	986 ft	11:53 UTC
RHP Andrews, NC	175 nm out, 8 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,200 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet	calm	7 mi	3,900 ft	1,698 ft	11:55 UTC
AJR Cornelia, GA	214 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots	7 mi	none	1,447 ft	11:55 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	812 ft	7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,698 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At AHN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:36 am EDT (13:36 UTC)

Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for AHN

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for LEX, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at AHN 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Blue Grass Airport, Athens/Ben Epps Airport.