Plan a flight · Mon 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Wilmington International LEX → ILM

396 nautical miles (455 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 123°, about 127° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:48 am EDT (13:48 UTC). Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; ILM is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 10 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 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 178 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 49 to 198 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 148 to 228 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 158 to 218 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 198 to 277 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 LEX.

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

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 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
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
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
CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 26 nm southwest, 6:10 am EDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 139 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
booie
Time
10:10 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 5 nm south, 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC): remarks: mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28. 228 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM100026/TM 1057/FL350/TP BCS3/RM MOUNTAIN WAVE +/- 10KTS ZTLFD 28
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
26 nm east (100°) of BZM
Time
10:57 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28
CL30 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm south, 7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV KILM/TM 1107/FL010/TP CL30/SK BKN006
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
over KILM
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
CL30
Sky
a broken layer from 600 ft

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, TRI, RDU, ILM). 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	320° at 22 kt	−22 kt		142 kt	2 h 47 min	10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	2 h 50 min	10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC)
7,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−22 kt	10 °C	142 kt	2 h 47 min	10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC)
9,500 ft	340° at 28 kt	−24 kt	7 °C	144 kt	2 h 45 min	10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 28 kt	−24 kt	5 °C	144 kt	2 h 45 min	10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 29 kt	−26 kt	2 °C	146 kt	2 h 43 min	10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 32 kt	−29 kt	-2 °C	149 kt	2 h 39 min	10:02 am EDT (14:02 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 34 kt	−32 kt	-6 °C	152 kt	2 h 36 min	9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 35 kt	−32 kt	-7 °C	152 kt	2 h 36 min	9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-19 °C	153 kt	2 h 35 min	9:58 am EDT (13:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 39 kt	−38 kt	-32 °C	158 kt	2 h 30 min	9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-41 °C	164 kt	2 h 25 min	9:48 am EDT (13:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 39 kt	−39 kt	-49 °C	159 kt	2 h 29 min	9:52 am EDT (13:52 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; 75 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°
TRI	used from 49 nm out; 68 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
RDU	used from 247 nm out; 61 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -47°
ILM	used from 346 nm out; 25 nm from the line	300/18	300/22 13°	300/21 8°	290/28 4°	280/38 -7°	270/40 -18°	250/49 -32°	250/50 -40°	270/33 -50°

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-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC)
RGA Richmond, KY	20 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots	5 mi	200 ft	1,002 ft	10:55 UTC
CPF Hazard, KY	79 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	5 mi	600 ft	1,256 ft	11:35 UTC
LNP Wise, VA	119 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	4 mi	200 ft	2,684 ft	11:15 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	139 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	1,518 ft	11:00 UTC
UKF North Wilkesboro, NC	198 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,303 ft	11:15 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	237 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	969 ft	10:54 UTC
VUJ Albemarle, NC	267 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	609 ft	11:15 UTC
FAY Fayetteville, NC	327 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	189 ft	10:53 UTC
EYF Elizabethtown, NC	356 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	131 ft	11:15 UTC
ILM Wilmington, NC	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet	from the west (260°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	31 ft	6:53 am EDT (10:53 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 ILM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:48 am EDT (13:48 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ILM

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast 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

6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 317 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 1 nm from the route, 356 nm along the route · security · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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, Wilmington International.