Harrisburg International to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International MDT → MSY
901 nautical miles (1,036 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 231°, about 242° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC). Right now MDT is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots; MSY is VFR, 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: 3 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
- SIGMET E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 30 to 99 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- 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 445 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 40 to 485 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 158 to 307 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 307 to 455 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 MDT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (PSB, EKN, ROA, TRI, TYS, ATL, BHM, MGM, MOB, MSY). 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 | 330° at 18 kt | −3 kt | 12 °C | 123 kt | 7 h 20 min | 9:09 am CDT (14:09 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −6 kt | 14 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −6 kt | 10 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −6 kt | 7 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 12 min | 9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −3 kt | -1 °C | 123 kt | 7 h 20 min | 9:09 am CDT (14:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −1 kt | -5 °C | 121 kt | 7 h 27 min | 9:16 am CDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 24 kt | 0 | -8 °C | 120 kt | 7 h 30 min | 9:19 am CDT (14:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 28 kt | +3 kt | -19 °C | 117 kt | 7 h 42 min | 9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | −3 kt | -33 °C | 123 kt | 7 h 20 min | 9:09 am CDT (14:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 39 kt | 0 | -40 °C | 120 kt | 7 h 30 min | 9:19 am CDT (14:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 35 kt | +1 kt | -49 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 34 min | 9:23 am CDT (14:23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSB | used from 0 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| EKN | used from 99 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| ROA | used from 198 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 297 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 396 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| ATL | used from 495 nm out; 57 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° |
| BHM | used from 544 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| MGM | used from 643 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| MOB | used from 742 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 330/5 | 330/6 19° | 340/6 11° | 330/10 7° | 320/16 -5° | 310/26 -16° | 340/40 -32° | 340/47 -42° | 350/51 -52° |
| MSY | used from 841 nm out; 35 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDT Harrisburg, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 310 ft | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 69 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 11,000 ft | 564 ft | 06:17 UTC |
| FRR Front Royal, VA | 99 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 7 mi | 1,600 ft | 703 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 218 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 346 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GCY Greeneville, TN | 376 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet | variable at 5 knots, gusting to 11 | 7 mi | 500 ft | 1,607 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| RMG Rome, GA | 534 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | reported, no category | calm | 100 ft | 644 ft | 05:53 UTC | |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 623 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 650 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SEM Selma, AL | 683 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37 | 3,300 ft | 166 ft | 01:30 UTC | |
| HSA Bay St Louis, MS | 851 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 22 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| MSY New Orleans, LA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 3 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MSY
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MDT, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 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
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 25 nm from the route, 59 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at MDT 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 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: Harrisburg International, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.