Albert J Ellis Airport to Smyrna Airport OAJ → MQY
441 nautical miles (508 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 282°, about 290° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC). Right now OAJ is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots; MQY is IFR, wind calm. 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: 1 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 118 to 216 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 196 to 284 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 196 to 275 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 235 to 363 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). Over the last 186 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
- CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 50 nm north, 6:10 am EDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 255 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- booie
- Time
- 10:10 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
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 6 forecast points nearest it (ILM, RDU, FLO, GSP, TYS, BNA). 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 | 340° at 22 kt | +12 kt | 108 kt | 4 h 05 min | 10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | +11 kt | 12 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 03 min | 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | +13 kt | 10 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 07 min | 10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | +16 kt | 7 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 14 min | 10:13 am CDT (15:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | +19 kt | 4 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 22 min | 10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | +20 kt | 0 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 25 min | 10:24 am CDT (15:24 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 30 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 30 min | 10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 31 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 33 min | 10:32 am CDT (15:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 32 kt | +23 kt | -19 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 33 min | 10:32 am CDT (15:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | +30 kt | -32 °C | 90 kt | 4 h 54 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 41 kt | +30 kt | -41 °C | 90 kt | 4 h 54 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 34 kt | +28 kt | -50 °C | 92 kt | 4 h 48 min | 10:47 am CDT (15:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILM | used from 0 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 300/18 | 300/22 13° | 300/21 8° | 290/28 4° | 280/38 -7° | 270/40 -18° | 250/49 -32° | 250/50 -40° | 270/33 -50° |
| RDU | used from 49 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
| FLO | used from 98 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 330/17 | 330/17 12° | 320/21 9° | 310/29 4° | 310/36 -8° | 300/36 -19° | 290/34 -32° | 300/29 -40° | 310/34 -48° |
| GSP | used from 147 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| TYS | used from 245 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| BNA | used from 392 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
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 Sky: overcast at 4,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 92 ft | 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC) |
| CTZ Clinton, NC | 39 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 144 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 59 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 128 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 609 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| JQF Concord, NC | 157 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 704 ft | 10:15 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 196 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 245 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 2,163 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| GKT Sevierville, TN | 294 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 1,013 ft | 10:36 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 314 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 986 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CSV Crossville, TN | 373 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,881 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RNC Mc Minnville, TN | 402 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,031 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | destination | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | none | 543 ft | 5:49 am CDT (10:49 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MQY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MQY
- From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, a broken layer at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
The forecast for OAJ, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): a broken layer at 800 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
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 15 nm from the route, 49 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 88 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 21 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at OAJ 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC), at MQY 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 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
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, Smyrna Airport.