Plan a flight · Sun 8:05 pm CDT (01:05 UTC)

Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Louisville Muhammad Ali International MEM → SDF

278 nautical miles (320 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 046°, about 047° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 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: 2,297 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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

A319 at 39,000 ft, 2 nm south, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through MEM
Where
over MEM
Time
23:11 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
smooth
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 59 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B38M at 25,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 99 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
B738 at 34,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 159 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 31 nm southeast, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 159 nm along the route, 31 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 41 nm southeast, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 159 nm along the route, 41 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
A319 at 25,000 ft, 38 nm southeast, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 218 nm along the route, 38 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
E170 climbing, 0 nm north, 5:26 pm CDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm northeast, 5:12 pm CDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37

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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (MEM, BNA, EVV, LOU). 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 11 kt	−4 kt		124 kt	2 h 15 min	11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	+2 kt		118 kt	2 h 21 min	11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	+2 kt	13 °C	118 kt	2 h 21 min	11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	0	10 °C	120 kt	2 h 19 min	11:24 pm EDT (03:24 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	+1 kt	6 °C	119 kt	2 h 20 min	11:25 pm EDT (03:25 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 30 kt	+3 kt	2 °C	117 kt	2 h 23 min	11:28 pm EDT (03:28 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 30 kt	+4 kt	-3 °C	116 kt	2 h 24 min	11:29 pm EDT (03:29 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 30 kt	+6 kt	-7 °C	114 kt	2 h 26 min	11:31 pm EDT (03:31 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 30 kt	+6 kt	-8 °C	114 kt	2 h 26 min	11:31 pm EDT (03:31 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	340° at 36 kt	+11 kt	-19 °C	109 kt	2 h 33 min	11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 53 kt	+6 kt	-34 °C	114 kt	2 h 26 min	11:31 pm EDT (03:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 55 kt	+8 kt	-41 °C	112 kt	2 h 29 min	11:34 pm EDT (03:34 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	330° at 39 kt	+6 kt	-48 °C	114 kt	2 h 26 min	11:31 pm EDT (03:31 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
MEM	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
BNA	used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
EVV	used from 149 nm out; 62 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
LOU	used from 248 nm out; 20 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°

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 (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC)
NQA Millington, TN	20 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	322 ft	23:50 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	59 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	00:53 UTC
PHT Paris, TN	109 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	580 ft	00:55 UTC
HVC Hopkinsville, KY	169 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	563 ft	00:55 UTC
JQD Hartford, KY	208 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	no report just now				537 ft
EKX Elizabethtown, KY	248 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	775 ft	23:35 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 775 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for MEM, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest 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 9 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, a few clouds at 10,000 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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is after sunset there (7:11 pm EDT (23:11 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

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.