Plan a flight · Mon 6:38 am CDT (11:38 UTC)

Smyrna Airport to Norfolk International MQY → ORF

501 nautical miles (577 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 081°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC). Right now MQY is VFR, wind calm; ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15. 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: 1 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 first 265 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 79 to 285 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 206 to 324 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 216 to 295 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 295 to 413 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 108 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

E75L at 30,000 ft, 33 nm south, 5:51 am CDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. 373 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDU
Where
20 nm north (360°) of RDU
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at F300
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
E75L at 33,000 ft, 34 nm north, 6:09 am CDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 29 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA045040/TM 1109/FL330/TP E75L/TB NEG/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
40 nm northeast (045°) of BNA
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME62
CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 4 nm south, 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 196 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
booie
Time
10:10 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 47 nm south, 5:57 am CDT (10:57 UTC): remarks: mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28. 275 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM100026/TM 1057/FL350/TP BCS3/RM MOUNTAIN WAVE +/- 10KTS ZTLFD 28
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
26 nm east (100°) of BZM
Time
10:57 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28
E75L descending, 40 nm north, 6:09 am CDT (11:09 UTC): a broken layer above 3,700 ft. 314 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 1109/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK BKN037 050
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
BKN037 at 5,000 ft
A320 at 4,000 ft, 39 nm north, 6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: TOPS048. 442 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC270006/TM 1103/FL040/TP A320/SK BKN040/RM TOPS048
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
6 nm west (270°) of RIC
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 4,000 ft
Remarks
TOPS048
PC12 at 1,000 ft, 15 nm north, 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the destination end, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1042/FL010/TP PC12/SK OVC010/RM OVC010 DURD RWY25 KPHF
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHF
Where
over KPHF
Time
10:42 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
Remarks
OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
B738 at 1,200 ft, 0 nm south, 4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 3,000 ft; scattered clouds above 8,500 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORF UA /OV ORF/TM 0907/FL012/TP B738/SK OVC012-TOP030/SCT085/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORF
Where
over ORF
Time
09:07 UTC
Height
at 1,200 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 3,000 ft; scattered clouds from 8,500 ft
Remarks
during the climb

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BNA, TYS, TRI, ROA, RDU, RIC, ORF). 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	320° at 25 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	3 h 46 min	11:24 am EDT (15:24 UTC)
5,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−8 kt	11 °C	128 kt	3 h 55 min	11:33 am EDT (15:33 UTC)
7,500 ft	340° at 28 kt	−7 kt	11 °C	127 kt	3 h 57 min	11:35 am EDT (15:35 UTC)
9,500 ft	340° at 29 kt	−7 kt	8 °C	127 kt	3 h 57 min	11:35 am EDT (15:35 UTC)
11,500 ft	340° at 28 kt	−8 kt	5 °C	128 kt	3 h 55 min	11:33 am EDT (15:33 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 29 kt	−10 kt	1 °C	130 kt	3 h 51 min	11:29 am EDT (15:29 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 31 kt	−12 kt	-2 °C	132 kt	3 h 48 min	11:26 am EDT (15:26 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 33 kt	−14 kt	-6 °C	134 kt	3 h 44 min	11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 33 kt	−15 kt	-7 °C	135 kt	3 h 43 min	11:21 am EDT (15:21 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 35 kt	−17 kt	-20 °C	137 kt	3 h 39 min	11:17 am EDT (15:17 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 41 kt	−20 kt	-33 °C	140 kt	3 h 35 min	11:13 am EDT (15:13 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 45 kt	−24 kt	-40 °C	144 kt	3 h 29 min	11:07 am EDT (15:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 38 kt	−27 kt	-49 °C	147 kt	3 h 24 min	11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 32 nm from the line	300/20	300/14 15°	300/14 10°	300/13 4°	310/22 -5°	280/24 -18°	310/37 -33°	310/50 -41°	320/49 -51°
TYS	used from 49 nm out; 55 nm from the line	330/16	350/32 14°	350/37 9°	340/30 5°	330/28 -6°	340/36 -19°	330/40 -33°	330/51 -41°	330/36 -51°
TRI	used from 147 nm out; 29 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
ROA	used from 246 nm out; 65 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
RDU	used from 344 nm out; 53 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -47°
RIC	used from 393 nm out; 51 nm from the line	350/34	340/27 12°	340/36 8°	330/31 3°	310/32 -9°	320/34 -21°	300/37 -34°	290/37 -39°	290/42 -46°
ORF	used from 442 nm out; 34 nm from the line	310/30	320/27 11°	310/30 8°	320/30 3°	290/36 -8°	270/40 -21°	250/52 -32°	250/50 -39°	260/42 -48°

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	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	543 ft	6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC)
SRB Sparta, TN	49 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	1,025 ft	11:15 UTC
SCX Oneida, TN	98 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	1,544 ft	11:15 UTC
JAU Jacksboro, TN	118 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	IFR Weather: mist	calm	2 mi	none	1,179 ft	11:10 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	196 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	1,518 ft	11:00 UTC
GEV Jefferson, NC	246 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	1,500 ft	3,177 ft	11:15 UTC
HLX Galax Hillsville, VA	275 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	2,000 ft	2,693 ft	06:15 UTC
MTV Martinsville, VA	314 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the north (350°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	948 ft	11:35 UTC
CXE Chase City, VA	393 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	503 ft	11:15 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	422 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
AKQ Wakefield, VA	462 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	111 ft	11:27 UTC
ORF Norfolk, VA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15	5 mi	1,100 ft	26 ft	7:27 am EDT (11:27 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,177 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ORF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC)

Wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for ORF

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 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 Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 1 mile, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest 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 ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 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 Southeast · 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: Smyrna Airport, Norfolk International.