Plan a flight · Mon 9:59 am CDT (14:59 UTC)

Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field to Lovell Field LFT → CHA

449 nautical miles (517 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 048°, about 045° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:28 pm EDT (18:28 UTC). Right now LFT is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; CHA is low IFR, 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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

B737 at 23,000 ft, 15 nm southeast, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): no turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: zhu. 50 nm along the route, 15 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BTR UA /OV KLSU945005/TM 1230/FL230/TP B737/TB NEG 000-230/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BTR
Where
5 nm southwest (945°) of KLSU
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no from 0 ft to 23,000 ft
Remarks
zhu
BE36 at 8,000 ft, 36 nm southeast, 8:40 am CDT (13:40 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 8,000 ft to 60,000 ft, 18 °C, wind 270° at 4 knots, remarks: ZME65. 170 nm along the route, 36 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MCB UA /OV LBY045020/TM 1340/FL080/TP BE36/SK SKC/WX NEG/TA 18/WV 270004KT/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZME65
```
Report
a routine report filed through MCB
Where
20 nm northeast (045°) of LBY
Time
13:40 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Sky
clear
Weather
no
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
from 270° at 4 knots
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZME65
E145 at 300 ft, 0 nm west, 9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC): overcast from 20,000 ft to 1,200 ft, fog, remarks: runway 20 below ils mins. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV OV CHA/TM 1401/FL003/TP E145/SK OVC002-TOPS012/WX 1/4SM FG/RM RY 20 BELOW ILS MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over cha
Time
14:01 UTC
Height
at 300 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 200 ft, tops 1,200 ft
Weather
1/4SM, fog
Remarks
runway 20 below ils mins
DA62 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm west, 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC): fog. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA 1S/TM 1305/FL011/TP DA62/SK VV002-TOP011/WX 1/8SM FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
cha 1S
Time
13:05 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
DA62
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft, tops 1,100 ft
Weather
1/8SM, fog
CRJ9 at 200 ft, 0 nm west, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: visual at mins runway 20 cha. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA 1N/TM 1230/FL002/TP CRJ9/SK VV002/WX 1/8SM/RM VISUAL AT MINS RY 20 CHA
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
cha 1N
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft
Weather
1/8SM
Remarks
visual at mins runway 20 cha
B712 at 1,500 ft, 0 nm west, 7:26 am CDT (12:26 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1226/FL015/TP B712/SK TOP015/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
12:26 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
TOP015
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
E145 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 7:19 am CDT (12:19 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 20 arrival weather at ils clear-air turbulence 2 mins. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1219/FL010/TP E145/RM DURD. RY 20 ARRIVAL. WX AT ILS CAT 2 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
12:19 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Remarks
during the descent runway 20 arrival weather at ils clear-air turbulence 2 mins

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 (MSY, JAN, BHM, HSV). 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	250° at 6 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	3 h 34 min	2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC)
5,500 ft	250° at 7 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	3 h 32 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 7 kt	−6 kt	14 °C	126 kt	3 h 34 min	2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC)
9,500 ft	280° at 9 kt	−6 kt	10 °C	126 kt	3 h 34 min	2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 11 kt	−7 kt	7 °C	127 kt	3 h 32 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 12 kt	−7 kt	3 °C	127 kt	3 h 32 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	−7 kt	0 °C	127 kt	3 h 32 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−7 kt	-4 °C	127 kt	3 h 32 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 15 kt	−7 kt	-5 °C	127 kt	3 h 32 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 16 kt	−9 kt	-16 °C	129 kt	3 h 29 min	2:28 pm EDT (18:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 33 kt	+3 kt	-30 °C	117 kt	3 h 50 min	2:49 pm EDT (18:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 39 kt	+4 kt	-40 °C	116 kt	3 h 52 min	2:51 pm EDT (18:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	340° at 35 kt	+13 kt	-51 °C	107 kt	4 h 12 min	3:11 pm EDT (19:11 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 77 nm from the line	170/11	160/13 18°	150/8 12°	L/V 6°	310/12 -5°	290/11 -15°	340/27 -30°	350/32 -40°	360/30 -52°
JAN	used from 100 nm out; 44 nm from the line	210/8	230/13 18°	240/10 11°	260/11 6°	280/16 -5°	260/12 -15°	330/34 -30°	320/39 -40°	340/34 -51°
BHM	used from 249 nm out; 63 nm from the line	310/11	310/13 16°	310/18 11°	300/17 6°	300/14 -5°	300/20 -17°	320/35 -30°	320/43 -40°	340/38 -50°
HSV	used from 349 nm out; 30 nm from the line	290/11	300/10 15°	300/17 12°	290/20 6°	290/18 -5°	290/25 -17°	310/38 -31°	320/47 -40°	330/43 -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	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	40 ft	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)
HZR New Roads, LA	40 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	4 mi	none	39 ft	08:15 UTC
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	50 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	69 ft	14:53 UTC
MCB Mc Comb, MS	100 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	413 ft	13:53 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	210 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	13:58 UTC
AIV Aliceville, AL	259 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				150 ft
TCL Tuscaloosa, AL	289 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	169 ft	14:53 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	329 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	650 ft	14:53 UTC
BFZ Albertville, AL	379 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,032 ft	14:35 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	calm	0.75 mi	200 ft	682 ft	10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,032 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CHA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:28 pm EDT (18:28 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for CHA

From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 500 feet
From Mon 11:30 am EDT (15:30 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet

The forecast for LFT, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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 LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC), at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 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 · 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: Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field, Lovell Field.