Lancaster Airport to Charleston Afb/Intl Airport LNS → CHS
470 nautical miles (541 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 204°, about 213° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC). Right now LNS is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots; CHS is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 8 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 120 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 90 nm along the route.
- 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 110 to 230 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 LNS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (ACY, RIC, RDU, FLO, CHS). 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 | 340° at 24 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 3 h 26 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 29 min | 10:27 am EDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −17 kt | 9 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 26 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | −15 kt | 6 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 29 min | 10:27 am EDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | −14 kt | 2 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 30 min | 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | −13 kt | -2 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 32 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −13 kt | -5 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 32 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 32 kt | −13 kt | -8 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 32 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 30 kt | −7 kt | -20 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 42 min | 10:40 am EDT (14:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 33 kt | +3 kt | -33 °C | 117 kt | 4 h 01 min | 10:59 am EDT (14:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 32 kt | +1 kt | -39 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 57 min | 10:55 am EDT (14:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 37 kt | −2 kt | -47 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 51 min | 10:49 am EDT (14:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACY | used from 0 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 350/12 | 340/12 11° | 340/12 6° | 340/13 2° | 270/10 -10° | 240/17 -23° | 230/46 -33° | 230/46 -40° | 240/46 -49° |
| RIC | used from 50 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| RDU | used from 200 nm out; 57 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° |
| FLO | used from 350 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 330/17 | 330/17 12° | 320/21 9° | 310/29 4° | 310/36 -8° | 300/36 -19° | 290/34 -32° | 300/29 -40° | 310/34 -48° |
| CHS | used from 450 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 330/14 | 300/17 14° | 320/21 9° | 310/26 6° | 310/32 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 260/37 -32° | 280/30 -39° | 310/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LNS Lancaster, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 402 ft | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
| DMW Westminster, MD | 40 nm out, 18 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 789 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 80 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 14 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 100 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 192 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 160 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 167 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 200 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | 280 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 10:51 UTC |
| HRJ Erwin, NC | 310 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 201 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 330 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 390 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MKS Moncks Corner, SC | 450 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 74 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| CHS Charleston, SC | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 5:56 am EDT (09:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 789 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CHS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CHS
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LNS, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,100 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 50 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 70 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 80 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 350 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at LNS 6:30 pm EDT (22:30 UTC), at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 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: Lancaster Airport, Charleston Afb/Intl Airport.