Plan a flight · Sun 8:43 pm CDT (01:43 UTC)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International to Norfolk International MSY → ORF

816 nautical miles (939 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 056°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; ORF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 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: 199 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

SIGMET 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 726 to 776 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120055
MKCE WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.

AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 318 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Near the route, 448 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 468 nm along 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 MSY.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B737 at 26,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 169 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC/TM 2319/FL260/TP B737/TB CONS MOD CHOP 260-280/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
over MVC
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
A21N at 33,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 5:51 pm CDT (22:51 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 189 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC360030/TM 2251/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
30 nm north (360°) of MVC
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B737 at 38,000 ft, 15 nm north, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 289 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
B752 descending, 23 nm northwest, 6:03 pm CDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 368 nm along the route, 23 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
PA32 at 7,000 ft, 37 nm southeast, 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. 488 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV KAIK360010/TM 0017/FL070/TP PA32/WX FV99SM/TA 8/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
10 nm north (360°) of KAIK
Time
00:17 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Weather
flight visibility 99 miles
Temperature
8 °C
Remarks
smooth
SR22 at 8,000 ft, 42 nm southeast, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. 597 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FLO UA /OV BBP/TM 0018/FL080/TP SR22/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM THIN LAYER BELOW BUT CAN SEE LIGHTS FROM THE GROUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through FLO
Where
over BBP
Time
00:18 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
thin layer below but can see lights from the ground
B763 at 3,000 ft, 44 nm northwest, 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 637 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 43 nm northwest, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 637 nm along the route, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
E75L at 4,000 ft, 42 nm southeast, 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 647 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAY UA /OV KFAY/TM 2245/FL040/TP E75L/SK BASES 045
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAY
Where
over KFAY
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
bases 4,500 ft

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 9 forecast points nearest it (MSY, MOB, MGM, CSG, ATL, GSP, FLO, RDU, 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	270° at 16 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	6 h 08 min	3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	6 h 20 min	4:03 am EDT (08:03 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−10 kt	12 °C	130 kt	6 h 17 min	4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC)
9,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	−13 kt	10 °C	133 kt	6 h 08 min	3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 23 kt	−17 kt	7 °C	137 kt	5 h 57 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 25 kt	−20 kt	4 °C	140 kt	5 h 50 min	3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 26 kt	−22 kt	0 °C	142 kt	5 h 45 min	3:28 am EDT (07:28 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 27 kt	−24 kt	-4 °C	144 kt	5 h 40 min	3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 27 kt	−24 kt	-5 °C	144 kt	5 h 40 min	3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 32 kt	−30 kt	-17 °C	150 kt	5 h 26 min	3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 36 kt	−34 kt	-32 °C	154 kt	5 h 18 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 33 kt	−32 kt	-41 °C	152 kt	5 h 22 min	3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 36 kt	−34 kt	-51 °C	154 kt	5 h 18 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 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
MSY	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -52°
MOB	used from 50 nm out; 42 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -50°
MGM	used from 199 nm out; 19 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
CSG	used from 299 nm out; 24 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
ATL	used from 348 nm out; 24 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
GSP	used from 448 nm out; 43 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°
FLO	used from 547 nm out; 67 nm from the line	240/25	270/23 11°	250/36 10°	240/38 7°	240/50 -4°	230/66 -15°	220/75 -30°	210/77 -40°	220/73 -52°
RDU	used from 597 nm out; 55 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°
ORF	used from 746 nm out; 45 nm from the line	210/45	210/41 15°	210/39 13°	220/37 7°	230/55 -5°	230/65 -16°	220/71 -30°	220/75 -40°	220/72 -53°

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
MSY New Orleans, LA	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	3 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
HSA Bay St Louis, MS	50 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	22 ft	00:50 UTC
MOB Mobile, AL	109 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	218 ft	00:56 UTC
MGM Montgomery, AL	239 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	221 ft	00:53 UTC
AUO Auburn, AL	289 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	776 ft	05:21 UTC
ATL Atlanta, GA	368 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	00:52 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	428 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	812 ft	00:51 UTC
CLT Charlotte, NC	567 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower	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	00:52 UTC
VUJ Albemarle, NC	607 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	609 ft	01:35 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	677 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	00:51 UTC
IXA Roanoke Rapids, NC	736 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	144 ft	01:35 UTC
ORF Norfolk, VA	destination	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,026 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, 3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ORF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 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, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet

The forecast for MSY, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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 MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORF is before sunrise there (7:09 am EDT (11:09 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: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Norfolk International.