Plan a flight · Mon 11:05 am EDT (15:05 UTC)

Albert J Ellis Airport to North Platte Rgnl/Lee Bird Field OAJ → LBF

1,151 nautical miles (1,325 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 296°, about 304° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now OAJ is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots; LBF is low IFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) 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: 2 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 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 228 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 199 to 298 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the route from 218 to 387 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 734 to 1002 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, 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 OAJ.

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

B38M at 36,000 ft, 31 nm southwest, 10:25 am EDT (14:25 UTC): light turbulence above 36,000 ft. At the departure end, 31 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 1425/FL360/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT 360
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
over ILM
Time
14:25 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light at 36,000 ft
H25B descending, 31 nm southwest, 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 31 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 1209/FLDURD/TP H25B/SK TOPS 009 BASES 006 SCT
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
over ILM
Time
12:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
H25B
Sky
tops 900 ft bases 600 ft scattered
B739 at 33,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 33. 139 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GSO/TM 1300/FL330/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 33
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over GSO
Time
13:00 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 33
E145 at 2,000 ft, 50 nm southwest, 10:35 am EDT (14:35 UTC): sandstorm. 159 nm along the route, 50 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT 183 003/TM 1435/FL020/TP E145/WV 10 KT LOSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
clt at 18,300 ft at 300 ft
Time
14:35 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Wind
10 knots loss
BE33 at 7,000 ft, 18 nm south, 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 189 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM/TM 1253/FL070/TP BE33/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 45
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over BZM
Time
12:53 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
BE33
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 45
C210 at 7,000 ft, 40 nm south, 9:31 am EDT (13:31 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 218 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV SUG040025/TM 1331/FL070/TP C210/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 45
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm northeast (040°) of SUG
Time
13:31 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
C210
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ztlfd 45
C750 at 43,000 ft, 29 nm southwest, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 15. 218 nm along the route, 29 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV HMV170030/TM 1314/FL430/TP C750/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 15
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
30 nm south (170°) of HMV
Time
13:14 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 15
C56X at 18,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 9:01 am EDT (13:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 18,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 337 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV LOZ/TM 1301/FL180/TP C56X/SK SKC/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
over LOZ
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
E55P at 14,000 ft, 16 nm south, 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 367 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV SME/TM 1213/FL140/TP E55P/SK TOP 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
over SME
Time
12:13 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
top 1,000 ft
SR22 climbing, 36 nm northeast, 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 387 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX180003/TM 1430/FLDURC/TP SR22/SK TOPS 017
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
3 nm south (180°) of LEX
Time
14:30 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
tops 1,700 ft
BE58 climbing, 40 nm northeast, 10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 387 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX045002/TM 1408/FLDURC/TP BE58/SK OVC 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm northeast (045°) of LEX
Time
14:08 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE58
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
BE30 climbing, 37 nm northeast, 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 387 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX180002/TM 1340/FLDURC/TP BE30/SK TOPS 013
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm south (180°) of LEX
Time
13:40 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE30
Sky
tops 1,300 ft
E55P climbing, 38 nm north, 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 387 nm along the route, 38 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX270002/TM 1222/FLDURC/TP E55P/SK VV002 TOPS 018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm west (270°) of LEX
Time
12:22 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft, tops 1,800 ft
B739 at 17,000 ft, 42 nm northeast, 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC): remarks: clear and smooth. 407 nm along the route, 42 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV FFT/TM 1413/FL170/TP B739/RM CLEAR AND SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over FFT
Time
14:13 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Remarks
clear and smooth

8 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 10 forecast points nearest it (ILM, RDU, TRI, LOU, EVV, STL, COU, MKC, OMA, GRI). 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	270° at 17 kt	+17 kt	17 °C	103 kt	11 h 10 min	9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC)
6,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	+18 kt	16 °C	102 kt	11 h 17 min	9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 19 kt	+18 kt	12 °C	102 kt	11 h 17 min	9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	260° at 21 kt	+20 kt	9 °C	100 kt	11 h 31 min	9:36 pm CDT (02:36 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 22 kt	+22 kt	5 °C	98 kt	11 h 45 min	9:50 pm CDT (02:50 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 24 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	11 h 52 min	9:57 pm CDT (02:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	12 h 07 min	10:12 pm CDT (03:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 27 kt	+27 kt	-7 °C	93 kt	12 h 23 min	10:28 pm CDT (03:28 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 34 kt	+34 kt	-19 °C	86 kt	13 h 23 min	11:28 pm CDT (04:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 51 kt	+52 kt	-31 °C	68 kt	16 h 56 min	3:01 am CDT (08:01 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 58 kt	+59 kt	-38 °C	61 kt	18 h 52 min	4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 52 kt	+53 kt	-48 °C	67 kt	17 h 11 min	3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
ILM	used from 0 nm out; 45 nm from the line	330/14	320/19 15°	340/22 11°	340/20 6°	340/32 -6°	340/34 -19°	350/40 -32°	340/35 -41°	300/33 -50°
RDU	used from 50 nm out; 32 nm from the line	340/12	330/17 14°	320/20 10°	330/25 6°	340/34 -6°	340/38 -19°	330/37 -32°	330/35 -42°	310/36 -51°
TRI	used from 149 nm out; 80 nm from the line		340/26 15°	330/23 10°	330/23 6°	290/28 -6°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -34°	310/47 -41°	320/47 -49°
LOU	used from 347 nm out; 72 nm from the line	260/17	270/15 15°	260/19 10°	280/27 5°	280/30 -7°	280/29 -18°	280/44 -34°	290/56 -39°	310/56 -48°
EVV	used from 447 nm out; 46 nm from the line	270/15	250/15 14°	260/24 11°	270/28 6°	280/30 -7°	280/34 -18°	290/48 -33°	290/59 -38°	300/56 -48°
STL	used from 596 nm out; 39 nm from the line	240/25	240/21 15°	260/21 12°	270/21 7°	280/25 -7°	280/39 -19°	290/65 -31°	290/70 -38°	290/59 -48°
COU	used from 695 nm out; 42 nm from the line	240/28	240/22 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	270/23 -7°	260/39 -19°	290/70 -30°	290/71 -37°	290/58 -48°
MKC	used from 794 nm out; 60 nm from the line	220/35	240/30 21°	240/27 13°	240/31 6°	260/31 -7°	250/43 -21°	270/70 -28°	280/72 -36°	280/59 -49°
OMA	used from 893 nm out; 65 nm from the line	210/23	240/34 20°	230/40 14°	220/43 7°	240/38 -8°	250/47 -21°	270/70 -29°	270/79 -36°	270/68 -48°
GRI	used from 993 nm out; 30 nm from the line		270/26 19°	230/33 13°	230/39 8°	230/43 -9°	240/55 -21°	250/76 -28°	260/84 -36°	260/68 -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
OAJ Jacksonville, NC	departure	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	92 ft	10:56 am EDT (14:56 UTC)
FAY Fayetteville, NC	60 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	189 ft	14:53 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	149 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	969 ft	14:54 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	258 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	1,518 ft	14:53 UTC
EKX Elizabethtown, KY	437 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	775 ft	14:55 UTC
EVV Evansville, IN	516 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	421 ft	14:54 UTC
ALN Alton/St Louis, IL	645 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	14:50 UTC
MBY Moberly, MO	764 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	866 ft	14:55 UTC
STJ St Joseph, MO	873 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	none	826 ft	14:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	973 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	14:54 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	1042 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	14:53 UTC
LBF North Platte, NE	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	300 ft	2,777 ft	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,777 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LBF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC)

Wind from the northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LBF

From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 25,000 feet

The forecast for OAJ, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 16, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 744 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at OAJ 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC), at LBF 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm CDT (00:33 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LBF is after sunset there (7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

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: Albert J Ellis Airport, North Platte Rgnl/Lee Bird Field.