Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Asheville Regional MEM → AVL
365 nautical miles (420 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 085° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; AVL is marginal VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 6 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: 4 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 route from 148 to 355 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 257 to 355 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 last 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 30 nm of 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 MEM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 descending, 25 nm north, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. 296 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Remarks
- multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
- A319 descending, 25 nm north, 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC): remarks: tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft. 296 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0252/FLDURD/TP A319/RM TOPS 068 BASES 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 02:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A319
- Remarks
- tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft
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 5 forecast points nearest it (MEM, HSV, BNA, TYS, GSP). 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 | 300° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 2 h 45 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 15 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 2 h 48 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 13 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 47 min | 4:18 am EDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −13 kt | 9 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 45 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −10 kt | 6 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 48 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −11 kt | 2 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 47 min | 4:18 am EDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 2 h 46 min | 4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −14 kt | -5 °C | 134 kt | 2 h 43 min | 4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 25 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 42 min | 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 30 kt | −15 kt | -18 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 42 min | 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 44 kt | −26 kt | -33 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 30 min | 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 51 kt | −29 kt | -40 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 27 min | 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 43 kt | −20 kt | -50 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 36 min | 4:07 am EDT (08:07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| HSV | used from 99 nm out; 49 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° |
| BNA | used from 197 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° |
| TYS | used from 247 nm out; 34 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° |
| GSP | used from 346 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM Memphis, TN | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
| FYE Somerville, TN | 30 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| SZY Selmer, TN | 69 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 610 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| SNH Savannah, TN | 89 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 472 ft | 05:10 UTC |
| GZS Pulaski, TN | 148 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 688 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| THA Tullahoma, TN | 188 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,084 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 237 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MMI Athens, TN | 267 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 874 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 296 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 986 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet | from the north (360°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 2,163 ft | 1:12 am EDT (05:12 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AVL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC)
Wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): a broken layer at 3,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for AVL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 16 knots, gusting to 29, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MEM, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC), at AVL 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AVL is before sunrise there (7:33 am EDT (11:33 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: Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport, Asheville Regional.