Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field to Buffalo Niagara International LFT → BUF
994 nautical miles (1,144 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 036°, about 033° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC). Right now LFT is VFR, wind calm; BUF is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 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 route from 408 to 865 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 LFT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- MD83 climbing, 12 nm northwest, 12:04 am CDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 726 nm along the route, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 10 forecast points nearest it (MSY, JAN, MEM, HSV, BNA, LOU, CVG, CMH, CLE, BUF). 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 | 310° at 11 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 8 h 17 min | 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 8 h 39 min | 11:26 am EDT (15:26 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | +6 kt | 13 °C | 114 kt | 8 h 43 min | 11:30 am EDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +7 kt | 9 °C | 113 kt | 8 h 48 min | 11:35 am EDT (15:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 18 kt | +9 kt | 5 °C | 111 kt | 8 h 57 min | 11:44 am EDT (15:44 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 340° at 19 kt | +8 kt | 2 °C | 112 kt | 8 h 52 min | 11:39 am EDT (15:39 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +8 kt | -2 °C | 112 kt | 8 h 52 min | 11:39 am EDT (15:39 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +7 kt | -6 °C | 113 kt | 8 h 48 min | 11:35 am EDT (15:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 23 kt | +7 kt | -7 °C | 113 kt | 8 h 48 min | 11:35 am EDT (15:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 31 kt | +10 kt | -19 °C | 110 kt | 9 h 02 min | 11:49 am EDT (15:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 45 kt | +14 kt | -34 °C | 106 kt | 9 h 23 min | 12:10 pm EDT (16:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 53 kt | +14 kt | -42 °C | 106 kt | 9 h 23 min | 12:10 pm EDT (16:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 43 kt | +15 kt | -50 °C | 105 kt | 9 h 28 min | 12:15 pm EDT (16:15 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSY | used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 110/5 | 150/6 19° | L/V 12° | 310/5 7° | 310/13 -4° | 290/20 -16° | 330/36 -31° | 330/37 -41° | 350/43 -52° |
| JAN | used from 50 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| MEM | used from 249 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| HSV | used from 298 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BNA | used from 398 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| LOU | used from 497 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| CVG | used from 596 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CMH | used from 696 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CLE | used from 795 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| BUF | used from 895 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFT Lafayette, LA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
| BTR Baton Rouge, LA | 40 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 69 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| JAN Jackson, MS | 159 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 288 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 346 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MSL Muscle Shoals, AL | 348 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 550 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | 447 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 599 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 596 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 06:38 UTC |
| AMT West Union, OH | 666 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| LCK Columbus, OH | 726 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 743 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CAK Akron, OH | 825 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | 500 ft | 1,225 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| ERI Erie, PA | 915 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| BUF Buffalo, NY | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 726 ft | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,225 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BUF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BUF
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for LFT, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 13 nm from the route, 457 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 835 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 855 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 865 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 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
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: Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field, Buffalo Niagara International.