Smyrna Airport to Charlotte/Douglas International MQY → CLT
276 nautical miles (318 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 098°, about 100° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 35-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 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: 117 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 59 to 89 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 69 to 197 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the last 118 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 MQY.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B77W at 31,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. At the departure end, 41 nm northwest 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, 31 nm northwest, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. At the departure end, 31 nm northwest 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
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 3 forecast points nearest it (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 19 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 2 h | 11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 2 h | 11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −19 kt | 10 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 59 min | 11:50 pm EDT (03:50 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −20 kt | 7 °C | 140 kt | 1 h 58 min | 11:49 pm EDT (03:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −23 kt | 5 °C | 143 kt | 1 h 56 min | 11:47 pm EDT (03:47 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 33 kt | −26 kt | 1 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 53 min | 11:44 pm EDT (03:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 33 kt | −27 kt | -2 °C | 147 kt | 1 h 53 min | 11:44 pm EDT (03:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 34 kt | −29 kt | -6 °C | 149 kt | 1 h 51 min | 11:42 pm EDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 34 kt | −29 kt | -7 °C | 149 kt | 1 h 51 min | 11:42 pm EDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -18 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 48 min | 11:39 pm EDT (03:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -33 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 47 min | 11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 33 kt | −32 kt | -39 °C | 152 kt | 1 h 49 min | 11:40 pm EDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 34 kt | −31 kt | -48 °C | 151 kt | 1 h 50 min | 11:41 pm EDT (03:41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNA | used from 0 nm out; 34 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° |
| TYS | used from 49 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| GSP | used from 197 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MQY Smyrna, TN | departure | reported, no category | calm | none | 543 ft | 7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC) | |
| RNC Mc Minnville, TN | 39 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | none | 1,031 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| CSV Crossville, TN | 69 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,881 ft | 01:30 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 118 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 986 ft | 01:14 UTC |
| GKT Sevierville, TN | 148 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 1,013 ft | 01:36 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 197 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| EHO Shelby, NC | 246 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 846 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 8:52 pm EDT (00:52 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 CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:38 pm EDT (03:38 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CLT
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MQY, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 21 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at MQY 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLT is before sunrise there (7:27 am EDT (11:27 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: Smyrna Airport, Charlotte/Douglas International.