Norfolk International to Charleston Afb/Intl Airport ORF → CHS
306 nautical miles (352 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 219°, about 228° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 28-knot headwind), arriving about 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots; CHS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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: 258 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
- SIGMET 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 49 to 69 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
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
- E145 at 1,800 ft, 32 nm southeast, 8:38 pm EDT (00:38 UTC): a broken layer from 1,800 ft to 3,000 ft. 168 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 0038/FL018/TP E145/SK BKN018-TOP030
- Report
- a routine report filed through ILM
- Where
- over ILM
- Time
- 00:38 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,800 ft, tops 3,000 ft
- B739 at 15,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 7:20 pm EDT (23:20 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 15,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 256 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FLO UA /OV FLO200032/TM 2320/FL150/TP B739/SK SKC /TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FLO
- Where
- 32 nm south (200°) of FLO
- Time
- 23:20 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- C525 at 2,000 ft, 12 nm south, 7:56 pm EDT (23:56 UTC): a broken layer above 3,600 ft. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
KCHS UA /OV JZI/TM 2356/FL020/TP C525/SK BKN036
- Report
- a routine report filed through KCHS
- Where
- over JZI
- Time
- 23:56 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C525
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,600 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 (ORF, RDU, ILM, FLO, CHS). 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 | 230° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 92 kt | 3 h 20 min | 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 13 °C | 92 kt | 3 h 20 min | 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +33 kt | 12 °C | 87 kt | 3 h 31 min | 1:17 am EDT (05:17 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +36 kt | 10 °C | 84 kt | 3 h 39 min | 1:25 am EDT (05:25 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 40 kt | +39 kt | 6 °C | 81 kt | 3 h 47 min | 1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 45 kt | +43 kt | 2 °C | 77 kt | 3 h 58 min | 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 49 kt | +47 kt | -1 °C | 73 kt | 4 h 12 min | 1:58 am EDT (05:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 53 kt | +51 kt | -4 °C | 69 kt | 4 h 26 min | 2:12 am EDT (06:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 62 kt | +62 kt | -15 °C | 58 kt | 5 h 17 min | 3:03 am EDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 71 kt | +71 kt | -30 °C | 49 kt | 6 h 15 min | 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 210° at 73 kt | +73 kt | -40 °C | 47 kt | 6 h 31 min | 4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 68 kt | +68 kt | -52 °C | 52 kt | 5 h 53 min | 3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 | 210/45 | 210/41 15° | 210/39 13° | 220/37 7° | 230/55 -5° | 230/65 -16° | 220/71 -30° | 220/75 -40° | 220/72 -53° |
| RDU | used from 99 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -52° |
| ILM | used from 148 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 230/27 | 220/35 14° | 230/45 13° | 230/48 8° | 240/59 -4° | 230/57 -14° | 220/66 -30° | 210/66 -40° | 210/59 -52° |
| FLO | used from 197 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 240/25 | 270/23 11° | 250/36 10° | 240/38 7° | 240/50 -4° | 230/66 -15° | 220/75 -30° | 210/77 -40° | 220/73 -52° |
| CHS | used from 246 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 260/22 | 280/26 12° | 260/37 12° | 250/40 8° | 240/54 -4° | 230/55 -15° | 220/61 -31° | 200/66 -41° | 210/62 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF Norfolk, VA | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC) |
| SFQ Suffolk, VA | 20 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 70 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| MCZ Williamston, NC | 79 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,200 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 74 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| ISO Kinston, NC | 118 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 92 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| OAJ Jacksonville, NC | 138 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 92 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| CPC Whiteville, NC | 197 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 99 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| MYR Myrtle Beach, SC | 237 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| PHH Andrews, SC | 266 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| CHS Charleston, SC | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,400 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 46 ft | 8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 99 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CHS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC)
Wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CHS
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ORF, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 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, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 6 nm from the route, 177 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CHS is before sunrise there (7:21 am EDT (11:21 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, Charleston Afb/Intl Airport.