Blue Grass Airport to Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport LEX → VPS
463 nautical miles (533 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 192°, about 196° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 23-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LEX is IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 knots; VPS is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 57 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 route from 20 to 138 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 79 to 99 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the last 118 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
- B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south 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
- CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 11 nm southeast, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 177 nm along the route, 11 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- wind from 090° at 5 knots
- Time
- 22:51 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
- B712 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm east, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 187 nm along the route, 12 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of CHA
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- SCT030-TOP032 C
- B737 at 38,000 ft, 16 nm east, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 315 nm along the route, 16 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGC
- Where
- 25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-08
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 6 forecast points nearest it (LOU, TYS, HSV, BHM, MGM, MOB). 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 | 320° at 21 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 3 h 32 min | 12:20 am CDT (05:20 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | −19 kt | 13 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 20 min | 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | −22 kt | 11 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 16 min | 12:04 am CDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 32 kt | −23 kt | 7 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 14 min | 12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 33 kt | −23 kt | 4 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 14 min | 12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 33 kt | −22 kt | 0 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 16 min | 12:04 am CDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 32 kt | −20 kt | -4 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 18 min | 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 32 kt | −19 kt | -7 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 20 min | 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 32 kt | −18 kt | -18 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 21 min | 12:09 am CDT (05:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 34 kt | −15 kt | -34 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 26 min | 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 33 kt | −15 kt | -40 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 26 min | 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 28 kt | −13 kt | -49 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 29 min | 12:17 am CDT (05:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 57 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° |
| TYS | used from 49 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| HSV | used from 197 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 290/15 | 330/34 16° | 330/38 11° | 330/40 5° | 320/36 -7° | 320/31 -18° | 320/44 -34° | 330/53 -41° | 330/34 -48° |
| BHM | used from 246 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/32 16° | 320/37 11° | 330/37 6° | 310/33 -7° | 310/30 -18° | 320/40 -34° | 330/43 -41° | 330/30 -49° |
| MGM | used from 296 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/30 16° | 330/34 11° | 320/31 7° | 310/28 -7° | 320/29 -17° | 290/25 -34° | 300/28 -41° | 320/28 -50° |
| MOB | used from 444 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/18 18° | 330/16 12° | 300/18 7° | 320/17 -6° | 330/27 -17° | 340/52 -33° | 350/53 -43° | 330/38 -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 | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | 800 ft | 979 ft | 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC) |
| DVK Danville, KY | 30 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,021 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| EKQ Monticello, KY | 69 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 962 ft | 01:29 UTC |
| CSV Crossville, TN | 128 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,881 ft | 01:30 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 177 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 682 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| APT Jasper, TN | 187 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 641 ft | ||||
| ANB Anniston, AL | 276 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 612 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ALX Alexander City, AL | 315 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 685 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| MGM Montgomery, AL | 355 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 221 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TOI Troy, AL | 375 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CEW Crestview, FL | 444 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 213 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,881 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At VPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
The whole forecast for VPS
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
The forecast for LEX, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest 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 VPS 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at VPS is before sunrise there (6:46 am CDT (11:46 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: Blue Grass Airport, Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport.