Plan a flight · Mon 9:08 am CDT (14:08 UTC)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International to Sheppard Afb/Wichita Falls Municipal MSY → SPS

483 nautical miles (556 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 302°, about 303° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC). Right now MSY is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots; SPS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 14 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: 3 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 23,000 ft, 4 nm east, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): no turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: zhu. 59 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BTR UA /OV KLSU945005/TM 1230/FL230/TP B737/TB NEG 000-230/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BTR
Where
5 nm southwest (945°) of KLSU
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no from 0 ft to 23,000 ft
Remarks
zhu
A21N at 34,000 ft, 4 nm east, 6:37 am CDT (11:37 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. 59 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BTR UA /OV KBTR/TM 1137/FL340/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BTR
Where
over KBTR
Time
11:37 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zhu
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 4 nm south, 8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 148 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AEX UA /OV AEX250010/TM 1349/FL200/TP PC12/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through AEX
Where
10 nm west (250°) of AEX
Time
13:49 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
zhu
A321 , 36 nm northeast, 7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW86. 217 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SHV UA /OV EMG/TM 1203/FLB38M/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP DURC/RM ZFW86
```
Report
a routine report filed through SHV
Where
over EMG
Time
12:03 UTC
Height
at B38M
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
occasional light chop during the climb
Remarks
ZFW86
A321 at 32,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW89. 246 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GGG UA /OV GGG155035/TM 1253/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZFW89
```
Report
a routine report filed through GGG
Where
35 nm southeast (155°) of GGG
Time
12:53 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZFW89
E55P at 11,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW83. 345 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRL UA /OV TRL/TM 1242/FL110/TP E55P/TB NEG/RM ZFW83
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRL
Where
over TRL
Time
12:42 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW83
A320 at 2,400 ft, 24 nm southwest, 7:38 am CDT (12:38 UTC): a few clouds above 2,400 ft, remarks: bases 2400 ft, airport in sight on 8 mile final. 384 nm along the route, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1238/FL024/TP A320/SK FEW024/RM BASES 2400 FT, AIRPORT IN SIGHT ON 8 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 2,400 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a few clouds from 2,400 ft
Remarks
bases 2400 ft, airport in sight on 8 mile final
B738 at 2,100 ft, 24 nm southwest, 6:55 am CDT (11:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 384 nm along the route, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV 3 N OF DFW/TM 1155/FL021/TP B738/SK BASE021
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
3 north of dfw
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
at 2,100 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
BASE021
E170 at 2,200 ft, 24 nm southwest, 6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,200 ft, remarks: haze layer on final at 2200 ft. 384 nm along the route, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1142/FL022/TP E170/SK SCT022/RM HAZE LAYER ON FINAL AT 2200 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
11:42 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,200 ft
Remarks
haze layer on final at 2200 ft
C172 at 1,700 ft, 23 nm southwest, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): a broken layer above 2,200 ft. 404 nm along the route, 23 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AFW UA /OV AFW340004/TM 1338/FL017/TP C172/SK BKN022
```
Report
a routine report filed through AFW
Where
4 nm north (340°) of AFW
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
a broken layer from 2,200 ft
C560 at 2,600 ft, 36 nm south, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft. 404 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FTW UA /OV 5 NM W/TM 1302/FL026/TP C560/SK BKN026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FTW
Where
5 nautical miles west
Time
13:02 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft
C172 at 2,500 ft, 36 nm south, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,700 ft. 404 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FTW UA /OV 3 NM NW FTW/TM 1255/FL025/TP C172/SK SCT027
```
Report
a routine report filed through FTW
Where
3 nautical miles northwest ftw
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,700 ft
E145 at 13,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW32. 414 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MWL UA /OV MQP030040/TM 1338/FL130/TP E145/TB NEG/RM ZFW32
```
Report
a routine report filed through MWL
Where
40 nm northeast (030°) of MQP
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW32

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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (MSY, LCH, SHV, DAL, SPS). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	200° at 20 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	3 h 52 min	1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC)
6,500 ft	200° at 18 kt	−3 kt	17 °C	123 kt	3 h 56 min	1:04 pm CDT (18:04 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	+2 kt	13 °C	118 kt	4 h 06 min	1:14 pm CDT (18:14 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 12 kt	+4 kt	10 °C	116 kt	4 h 10 min	1:18 pm CDT (18:18 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 10 kt	+6 kt	6 °C	114 kt	4 h 14 min	1:22 pm CDT (18:22 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 12 kt	+8 kt	2 °C	112 kt	4 h 19 min	1:27 pm CDT (18:27 UTC)
16,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	+11 kt	-3 °C	109 kt	4 h 26 min	1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 16 kt	+13 kt	-6 °C	107 kt	4 h 31 min	1:39 pm CDT (18:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 16 kt	+14 kt	-15 °C	106 kt	4 h 33 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 32 kt	+32 kt	-30 °C	88 kt	5 h 29 min	2:37 pm CDT (19:37 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 32 kt	+32 kt	-40 °C	88 kt	5 h 29 min	2:37 pm CDT (19:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 37 kt	+34 kt	-51 °C	86 kt	5 h 37 min	2:45 pm CDT (19:45 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
MSY	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	150/9	140/8 18°	L/V 13°	L/V 6°	320/15 -5°	310/16 -16°	320/32 -31°	340/35 -40°	350/34 -52°
LCH	used from 99 nm out; 74 nm from the line	170/21	160/23 18°	170/13 13°	170/6 8°	300/12 -7°	280/16 -14°	320/27 -30°	330/23 -41°	340/38 -51°
SHV	used from 148 nm out; 68 nm from the line	210/20	210/20 18°	230/20 11°	240/16 7°	270/17 -7°	250/11 -15°	300/34 -30°	310/34 -40°	320/36 -51°
DAL	used from 296 nm out; 62 nm from the line	190/30	200/28 18°	220/18 13°	250/13 8°	240/24 -6°	270/20 -14°	270/35 -29°	290/34 -39°	310/41 -51°
SPS	used from 443 nm out; 20 nm from the line	220/35	220/31 18°	230/16 14°	230/10 8°	250/18 -5°	250/32 -16°	260/51 -28°	280/46 -38°	300/50 -50°

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: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	3 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
HDC Hammond, LA	20 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	46 ft	13:55 UTC
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	59 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	69 ft	13:53 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	138 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	88 ft	13:53 UTC
IER Natchitoches, LA	177 nm out, 14 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	121 ft	13:55 UTC
GGG Longview, TX	266 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	365 ft	13:53 UTC
TYR Tyler, TX	296 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	13:53 UTC
TKI Dallas, TX	374 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	588 ft	13:53 UTC
DTO Denton, TX	404 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,100 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	2,100 ft	642 ft	13:53 UTC
SPS Wichita Falls, TX	destination	VFR	from the south (180°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	1,019 ft	8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,019 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC)

Wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SPS

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

The forecast for MSY, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8926 Tyler, TX, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, 296 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZFW
9/2934 DALLAS, TX 18 nm from the route, 374 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at SPS 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm CDT (00:27 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 southern Plains · 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, Sheppard Afb/Wichita Falls Municipal.