Plan a flight · Sun 7:32 pm CDT (00:32 UTC)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International to Richmond International MSY → RIC

787 nautical miles (905 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 052°, about 053° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:39 am EDT (05:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSY is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots; RIC is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 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: 248 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 E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 119 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112355
MKCE WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC
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 119 to 279 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 378 to 468 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 438 to 597 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 707 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

B739 at 32,000 ft, 26 nm southeast, 5:23 pm CDT (22:23 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 110 nm along the route, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOB UA /OV SJI/TM 2223/FL320/TP B739/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOB
Where
over SJI
Time
22:23 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
zhu
B737 at 26,000 ft, 22 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, 22 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, 3 nm northeast, 5:51 pm CDT (22:51 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 189 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast 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
E145 at 9,000 ft, 36 nm northwest, 4:56 pm CDT (21:56 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast up to 9,000 ft, heavy rain. 697 nm along the route, 36 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2156/FL090/TP E145/SK OVCUNKN-TOP090/WX +RA/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LYH
Where
over LYH
Time
21:56 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast, tops 9,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
B739 at 34,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 5:27 pm CDT (22:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 129 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOB UA /OV SJI040025/TM 2227/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOB
Where
25 nm northeast (040°) of SJI
Time
22:27 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zhu
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 48 nm northwest, 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. 179 nm along the route, 48 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1770 3230N 08800W 2255 F340 349/061KT TB CONT LGT CHOP CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B737 at 38,000 ft, 7 nm southeast, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 289 nm along the route, 7 nm southeast 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
FA7X at 41,000 ft, 13 nm southeast, 4:41 pm CDT (21:41 UTC): light chop turbulence above 41,000 ft, remarks: ztlfd. 319 nm along the route, 13 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC085005/TM 2141/FL410/TP FA7X/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 410/RM ZTLFD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
5 nm east (085°) of LGC
Time
21:41 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
FA7X
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 41,000 ft
Remarks
ztlfd
B752 descending, 4 nm southeast, 6:03 pm CDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 368 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast 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
B739 descending, 4 nm southeast, 5:38 pm CDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 368 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
B717 descending, 4 nm southeast, 4:42 pm CDT (21:42 UTC): 18 °C, wind 284° at 15 knots, remarks: final runway 27L atl. 368 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2142/FLDURD/TP B717/SK BASES 030/TA 18/WV 284/15/RM FINAL RWY 27L ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
21:42 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B717
Sky
bases 3,000 ft
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
284/15
Remarks
final runway 27L atl
A320 at 37,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 4:36 pm CDT (21:36 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-27. 368 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GSU180035/TM 2136/FL370/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZTLFD-27
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
35 nm south (180°) of GSU
Time
21:36 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-27
C55B at 3,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 398 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
RV5 at 3,000 ft, 33 nm southeast, 4:55 pm CDT (21:55 UTC): overcast above 3,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. 408 nm along the route, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AHN UA /OV 52A/TM 2155/FL030/TP RV5/SK OVC 035/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through AHN
Where
over 52A
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
RV5
Sky
overcast from 3,500 ft
Remarks
during the descent

7 more routine reports are on the map.

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 7 forecast points nearest it (MSY, MOB, MGM, ATL, GSP, RDU, RIC). 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	280° at 14 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	6 h 03 min	2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	6 h 15 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−6 kt	12 °C	126 kt	6 h 15 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	−9 kt	10 °C	129 kt	6 h 06 min	2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	−13 kt	7 °C	133 kt	5 h 55 min	2:27 am EDT (06:27 UTC)
13,500 ft	280° at 24 kt	−16 kt	3 °C	136 kt	5 h 47 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
15,500 ft	280° at 25 kt	−18 kt	-1 °C	138 kt	5 h 42 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 26 kt	−20 kt	-5 °C	140 kt	5 h 37 min	2:09 am EDT (06:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 27 kt	−21 kt	-6 °C	141 kt	5 h 35 min	2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 31 kt	−27 kt	-17 °C	147 kt	5 h 21 min	1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 36 kt	−33 kt	-32 °C	153 kt	5 h 09 min	1:41 am EDT (05:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 35 kt	−33 kt	-41 °C	153 kt	5 h 09 min	1:41 am EDT (05:41 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 36 kt	−34 kt	-51 °C	154 kt	5 h 07 min	1:39 am EDT (05:39 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; 46 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 149 nm out; 68 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°
ATL	used from 299 nm out; 46 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; 30 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°
RDU	used from 597 nm out; 70 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°
RIC	used from 697 nm out; 65 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°

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-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	3 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
HSA Bay St Louis, MS	50 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	22 ft	23:50 UTC
SEM Selma, AL	219 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37		3,300 ft	166 ft	01:30 UTC
MGM Montgomery, AL	239 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	221 ft	23:53 UTC
ATL Atlanta, GA	368 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	00:20 UTC
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	398 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, scattered clouds at 3,300 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	23:56 UTC
GMU Greenville, SC	498 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	1,048 ft	23:53 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	627 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	969 ft	23:54 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	637 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	925 ft	00:23 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	747 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	167 ft	8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:39 am EDT (05:39 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIC

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, thunderstorms with rain, overcast at 600 feet (thunderheads)
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 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

6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 378 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at MSY 6:34 pm CDT (23:34 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIC is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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, Richmond International.