Plan a flight · Sun 8:05 pm CDT (01:05 UTC)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International MSY → SDF

540 nautical miles (621 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 023°, about 024° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 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: 636 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 295 to 422 nm out.

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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 304 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through TUP
Where
41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
BE40
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
zme
B763 at 29,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 5:15 pm CDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 304 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSL
Where
20 nm west (270°) of MSL
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZME31
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. 187 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast 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
B712 at 30,000 ft, 42 nm southeast, 6:09 pm CDT (23:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 206 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2309/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZME46
A21N at 34,000 ft, 42 nm southeast, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 206 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2305/FL340/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZME46
A319 at 32,000 ft, 8 nm northwest, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 412 nm along the route, 8 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
B738 at 34,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 422 nm along the route, 32 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 17 nm west, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 422 nm along the route, 17 nm west 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 25,000 ft, 13 nm east, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 471 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
E170 climbing, 0 nm north, 5:26 pm CDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm northeast, 5:12 pm CDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37

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 6 forecast points nearest it (MSY, JAN, BHM, HSV, BNA, LOU). 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 11 kt	+2 kt		118 kt	4 h 35 min	1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 21 kt	+12 kt		108 kt	5 h	2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	+14 kt	14 °C	106 kt	5 h 06 min	2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	+13 kt	10 °C	107 kt	5 h 03 min	2:08 am EDT (06:08 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	+15 kt	7 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 30 kt	+15 kt	3 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 30 kt	+15 kt	-2 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 30 kt	+15 kt	-6 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 30 kt	+15 kt	-7 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 31 kt	+15 kt	-18 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 43 kt	+20 kt	-33 °C	100 kt	5 h 24 min	2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 49 kt	+30 kt	-41 °C	90 kt	6 h	3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	330° at 41 kt	+24 kt	-49 °C	96 kt	5 h 38 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 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°
JAN	used from 98 nm out; 47 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°
BHM	used from 196 nm out; 89 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
HSV	used from 245 nm out; 73 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°
BNA	used from 344 nm out; 43 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°
LOU	used from 491 nm out; 29 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -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
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)
HDC Hammond, LA	29 nm out, 20 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	46 ft	00:55 UTC
PIB Hattiesburg-Laurel, MS	98 nm out, 8 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	00:56 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	157 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	297 ft	00:58 UTC
MPE Philadelphia, MS	177 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	458 ft	23:35 UTC
GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS	226 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	264 ft	00:56 UTC
HAB Hamilton, AL	275 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				436 ft
MRC Columbia/Mount Pleasant, TN	373 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	00:50 UTC
JWN Nashville, TN	412 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	501 ft	00:50 UTC
BWG Bowling Green, KY	461 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	547 ft	00:53 UTC
EKX Elizabethtown, KY	511 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	775 ft	23:35 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 775 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 5 nm from the route, 422 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME

Daylight

Sunset at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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 central Great Lakes · 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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.