Orlando International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport MCO → IAH
741 nautical miles (853 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 287° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 10 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: 7,200 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 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 336 to 395 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 MCO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B789 at 27,000 ft, 8 nm southwest, 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 612 nm along the route, 8 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LFT UA /OV LLA270030/TM 0030/FL270/TP B789/TB MOD CAT/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through LFT
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of LLA
- Time
- 00:30 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zhu
- C172 at 1,100 ft, 7 nm north, 9:12 pm EDT (01:12 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 0112/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 01:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- smooth
- C172 at 1,100 ft, 7 nm north, 8:12 pm EDT (00:12 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV 1SM N/TM 0012/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- 1SM north
- Time
- 00:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- smooth
- C172 at 4,000 ft, 35 nm south, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): clear from 4,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MLB UA /OV MLB252035/TM 2330/FL040/TP C172/SK SKC 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through MLB
- Where
- 35 nm west (252°) of MLB
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- clear from 4,000 ft
- P28A at 1,000 ft, 21 nm north, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): clear. At the departure end, 21 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SFB UA /OV SFB/TM 2315/FL010/TP P28A/SK CLR
- Report
- a routine report filed through SFB
- Where
- over SFB
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- clear
- P28A at 1,100 ft, 7 nm north, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,100 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 2315/FL011/TP P28A/SK SKC/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- P28A at 1,100 ft, 7 nm north, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,100 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 2300/FL011/TP P28A/SK SKC/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 23:00 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- BE20 at 16,000 ft, 47 nm east, 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC): no turbulence, vmc. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
MLB UA /OV MLB025032/TM 2220/FL160/TP BE20/WX VMC/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through MLB
- Where
- 32 nm northeast (025°) of MLB
- Time
- 22:20 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Weather
- visual conditions
- Turbulence
- none
- PAY1 at 21,000 ft, 10 nm north, 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC): light rime icing, -11 °C. 40 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
OCF UA /OV OCF160030/TM 2239/FL210/TP PAY1/TA M11/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through OCF
- Where
- 30 nm south (160°) of OCF
- Time
- 22:39 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PAY1
- Temperature
- −11 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- E75L at 27,000 ft, 18 nm north, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 622 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through LCH
- Where
- LCH08510
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- continuous chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B737 at 28,000 ft, 8 nm south, 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 28,000 ft, remarks: below 26,000 ft zhu. 632 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BPT UA /OV BPT109042/TM 2252/FL280/TP B737/TB INTMT LGT-MOD FL280 /RM BLO FL260. ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through BPT
- Where
- 42 nm east (109°) of BPT
- Time
- 22:52 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- intermittent light to moderate FL280
- Remarks
- below 26,000 ft zhu
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 2 nm south, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- IH340035
- Time
- 00:42 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- lt chop during the climb
- Remarks
- zhu
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 (PIE, TLH, MOB, MSY, LCH, HOU). 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 | 310° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 6 h 27 min | 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 8 kt | +6 kt | 17 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 30 min | 2:45 am CDT (07:45 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 7 kt | +7 kt | 13 °C | 113 kt | 6 h 33 min | 2:48 am CDT (07:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 10 kt | +10 kt | 10 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 44 min | 2:59 am CDT (07:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 6 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 56 min | 3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | +14 kt | 2 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 59 min | 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | +14 kt | -2 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 59 min | 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 14 kt | +14 kt | -5 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 59 min | 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 19 kt | +19 kt | -16 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 20 min | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -32 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 34 min | 3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 19 kt | +18 kt | -41 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 16 min | 3:31 am CDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 20 kt | +18 kt | -52 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 16 min | 3:31 am CDT (08:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIE | used from 0 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 310/7 | 270/12 17° | 270/14 13° | 260/14 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/24 -16° | 220/26 -31° | 200/31 -41° | 180/33 -53° |
| TLH | used from 148 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 300/17 | 340/32 17° | 320/27 13° | 300/27 8° | 280/23 -7° | 250/37 -17° | 230/44 -33° | 220/53 -41° | 220/48 -51° |
| MOB | used from 296 nm out; 97 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° |
| MSY | used from 395 nm out; 62 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 18° | L/V 12° | 300/11 7° | 330/15 -4° | 320/22 -16° | 330/38 -32° | 350/47 -42° | 340/56 -52° |
| LCH | used from 543 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 190/6 | 180/8 18° | 170/13 12° | 220/12 7° | 290/10 -4° | 280/15 -14° | 320/30 -31° | 320/32 -40° | 320/39 -53° |
| HOU | used from 691 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCO Orlando, FL | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 96 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 59 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 76 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HUM Houma, LA | 494 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 8 ft | 23:47 UTC |
| ARA New Iberia, LA | 563 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 24 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| LCH Lake Charles, LA | 632 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX | 672 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 95 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 96 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for MCO, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at MCO 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAH is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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: Orlando International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.