Norfolk International to Columbia Metro Airport ORF → CAE
299 nautical miles (344 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 235°, about 244° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:04 am EDT (14:04 UTC). Right now ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15; CAE is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 5 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: 4 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 279 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). Near the route, 219 nm along 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 ORF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 30,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. 130 nm along the route, 41 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 20 nm north (360°) of RDU
- Time
- 10:51 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- PC12 at 1,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the departure end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1042/FL010/TP PC12/SK OVC010/RM OVC010 DURD RWY25 KPHF
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHF
- Where
- over KPHF
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
- B738 at 1,200 ft, 0 nm south, 5:07 am EDT (09:07 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 3,000 ft; scattered clouds above 8,500 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORF UA /OV ORF/TM 0907/FL012/TP B738/SK OVC012-TOP030/SCT085/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORF
- Where
- over ORF
- Time
- 09:07 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 3,000 ft; scattered clouds from 8,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B752 at 30,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC): light chop turbulence above 30,000 ft. 110 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU090030/TM 1131/FLF300/TP B752/TB CONS LGT CHOP 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 30 nm east (090°) of RDU
- Time
- 11:31 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 30,000 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 4 forecast points nearest it (ORF, RDU, FLO, CAE). 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 23 kt | −3 kt | 123 kt | 2 h 26 min | 10:04 am EDT (14:04 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −3 kt | 11 °C | 123 kt | 2 h 26 min | 10:04 am EDT (14:04 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | 0 | 9 °C | 120 kt | 2 h 30 min | 10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | +2 kt | 6 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 32 min | 10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 30 kt | +3 kt | 2 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 33 min | 10:11 am EDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 32 kt | +3 kt | -2 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 33 min | 10:11 am EDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 35 kt | +2 kt | -5 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 32 min | 10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 36 kt | +2 kt | -8 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 32 min | 10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 32 kt | +12 kt | -20 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 46 min | 10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 33 kt | +16 kt | -32 °C | 104 kt | 2 h 52 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 32 kt | +11 kt | -39 °C | 109 kt | 2 h 45 min | 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 37 kt | +13 kt | -48 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 48 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/30 | 320/27 11° | 310/30 8° | 320/30 3° | 290/36 -8° | 270/40 -21° | 250/52 -32° | 250/50 -39° | 260/42 -48° |
| RDU | used from 50 nm out; 67 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 199 nm out; 32 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 249 nm out; 25 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF Norfolk, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15 | 5 mi | 1,100 ft | 26 ft | 7:27 am EDT (11:27 UTC) |
| SFQ Suffolk, VA | 20 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 70 ft | 11:35 UTC |
| ASJ Ahoskie, NC | 60 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,500 feet | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 66 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| RWI Rocky Mount, NC | 100 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 157 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 169 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RCZ Rockingham, NC | 209 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 357 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CQW Cheraw, SC | 229 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 238 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CDN Camden, SC | 269 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 302 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CAE Columbia, SC | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 235 ft | 6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 357 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:04 am EDT (14:04 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CAE
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ORF, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 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: Norfolk International, Columbia Metro Airport.