Albert J Ellis Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International OAJ → MSY
703 nautical miles (809 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 1-knot headwind), arriving about 11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC). Right now OAJ is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots; MSY is VFR, 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 20 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 8 forecast points nearest it (ILM, FLO, CAE, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB, MSY). 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 | 330° at 15 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 5 h 57 min | 11:55 am CDT (16:55 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | +1 kt | 14 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 54 min | 11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +1 kt | 11 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 54 min | 11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +3 kt | 8 °C | 117 kt | 6 h 01 min | 11:59 am CDT (16:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 10 min | 12:08 pm CDT (17:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +6 kt | 0 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 10 min | 12:08 pm CDT (17:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +6 kt | -3 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 10 min | 12:08 pm CDT (17:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 26 kt | +6 kt | -6 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 10 min | 12:08 pm CDT (17:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 27 kt | +7 kt | -18 °C | 113 kt | 6 h 13 min | 12:11 pm CDT (17:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 35 kt | +9 kt | -32 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 20 min | 12:18 pm CDT (17:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 36 kt | +1 kt | -40 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 54 min | 11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 31 kt | +2 kt | -51 °C | 118 kt | 5 h 57 min | 11:55 am CDT (16:55 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; 26 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° |
| FLO | used from 50 nm out; 37 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° |
| CAE | used from 149 nm out; 17 nm from the line | 340/17 | 330/15 12° | 320/22 9° | 320/31 5° | 330/35 -7° | 320/33 -19° | 340/40 -32° | 350/43 -39° | 320/35 -49° |
| ATL | used from 297 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| CSG | used from 347 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/27 | 340/28 16° | 350/28 11° | 330/17 6° | 340/25 -6° | 350/33 -18° | 330/46 -32° | 340/45 -41° | 350/31 -52° |
| MGM | used from 446 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 320/19 | 330/16 17° | 340/21 11° | 330/11 5° | 330/27 -6° | 330/21 -17° | 330/37 -32° | 340/44 -40° | 360/30 -52° |
| MOB | used from 545 nm out; 24 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | 020/8 11° | L/V 6° | 330/12 -5° | 330/23 -17° | 330/30 -32° | 350/39 -41° | 340/40 -53° |
| MSY | used from 644 nm out; 35 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° |
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) |
| ACZ Wallace, NC | 20 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 38 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 109 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | 178 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| AGS Augusta, GA | 238 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 145 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 327 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CSG Columbus, GA | 396 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 10:51 UTC |
| TOI Troy, AL | 455 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| GZH Evergreen, AL | 515 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 20 knots, gusting to 38 | 4 mi | 4,800 ft | 259 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| MOB Mobile, AL | 594 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | none | 218 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| HSA Bay St Louis, MS | 653 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 22 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| MSY New Orleans, LA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 397 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MSY
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 9 nm from the route, 50 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 25 nm from the route, 79 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 337 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at OAJ 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 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, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.