Kansas City International to Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International MCI → ATL
601 nautical miles (692 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 121°, about 119° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 12 knots; ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) 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: 6,472 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 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 first 20 nm of the route.
- 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 453 to 522 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 572 nm along 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 MCI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 33 nm southwest, 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. At the destination end, 33 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 24 nm southwest, 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 562 nm along the route, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 45 nm west (280°) of ATL
- Time
- 01:53 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
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 6 forecast points nearest it (MKC, COU, CGI, BNA, HSV, ATL). 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 | 260° at 19 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 4 h 27 min | 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 4 h 25 min | 3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 14 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 23 min | 3:41 am EDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 10 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 21 min | 3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 7 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 25 min | 3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 3 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 23 min | 3:41 am EDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | −19 kt | -1 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 19 min | 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 21 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 16 min | 3:34 am EDT (07:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -6 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 14 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -18 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 10 min | 3:28 am EDT (07:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 39 kt | −40 kt | -32 °C | 160 kt | 3 h 45 min | 3:03 am EDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 49 kt | −49 kt | -41 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 33 min | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -50 °C | 164 kt | 3 h 40 min | 2:58 am EDT (06:58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 49 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| CGI | used from 197 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| BNA | used from 345 nm out; 76 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° |
| HSV | used from 443 nm out; 22 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° |
| ATL | used from 542 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCI Kansas City, MO | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| RCM Warrensburg, MO | 49 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 797 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| DMO Sedalia, MO | 79 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 909 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 148 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| PYN Piedmont, MO | 227 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 466 ft | ||||
| DXE Dexter, MO | 276 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | no report just now | 304 ft | ||||
| HZD Huntingdon, TN | 355 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 496 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| PVE Lexington-Parsons, TN | 384 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 487 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 473 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 581 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 02:50 UTC |
| ATL Atlanta, GA | destination | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,159 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ATL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ATL
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MCI, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ATL is before sunrise there (7:39 am EDT (11:39 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: Kansas City International, Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International.