Northwest Alabama Regional to Mid-Ohio Valley Regional MSL → PKB
404 nautical miles (465 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 045°, about 048° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSL is VFR, wind calm; PKB is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) 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: 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 last 365 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 0 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 MSL.
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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (HSV, BNA, TYS, LOU, CVG, CRW). 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 20 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 3 h 25 min | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 3 h 35 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +9 kt | 12 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 38 min | 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | +10 kt | 8 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +11 kt | 5 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 42 min | 7:08 am EDT (11:08 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | +10 kt | 1 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | +9 kt | -3 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 38 min | 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | +8 kt | -6 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 36 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 29 kt | +8 kt | -7 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 36 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 36 kt | +14 kt | -19 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 49 min | 7:15 am EDT (11:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 50 kt | +12 kt | -34 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 44 min | 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 58 kt | +9 kt | -40 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 38 min | 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 42 kt | +10 kt | -49 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:06 am EDT (11:06 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSV | used from 0 nm out; 34 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 49 nm out; 32 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 148 nm out; 76 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° |
| LOU | used from 197 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| CVG | used from 247 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 296 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSL Muscle Shoals, AL | departure | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 550 ft | 2:18 am CDT (07:18 UTC) |
| GZS Pulaski, TN | 39 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 688 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| LUG Lewisburg, TN | 59 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 718 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | 89 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 543 ft | 07:15 UTC | |
| SRB Sparta, TN | 128 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,025 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| EKQ Monticello, KY | 187 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 962 ft | 07:22 UTC |
| RGA Richmond, KY | 237 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | none | 1,002 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| JKL Jackson, KY | 266 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 1,380 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 286 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 326 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 828 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| UNI Athens/Albany, OH | 375 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 100 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | 100 ft | 765 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 858 ft | 3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,380 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PKB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for PKB
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,400 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
The forecast for MSL, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC) and 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 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 MSL 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at PKB 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PKB is before sunrise there (7:32 am EDT (11:32 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: Northwest Alabama Regional, Mid-Ohio Valley Regional.