Norfolk International to Dekalb-Peachtree Airport ORF → PDK
436 nautical miles (502 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 248°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots; PDK 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: 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 50 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 69 to 129 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 277 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 347 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 367 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
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 02:00–09:00 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, FLO, GSP, ATL). 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 | 300° at 21 kt | +12 kt | 108 kt | 4 h 02 min | 5:14 am EDT (09:14 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +9 kt | 11 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 56 min | 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 21 kt | +11 kt | 9 °C | 109 kt | 4 h | 5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 23 kt | +14 kt | 7 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 07 min | 5:19 am EDT (09:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 25 kt | +18 kt | 4 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 16 min | 5:28 am EDT (09:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 28 kt | +22 kt | 0 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 27 min | 5:39 am EDT (09:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 32 kt | +27 kt | -4 °C | 93 kt | 4 h 41 min | 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 35 kt | +31 kt | -6 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 54 min | 6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 40 kt | +38 kt | -18 °C | 82 kt | 5 h 19 min | 6:31 am EDT (10:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 45 kt | +45 kt | -32 °C | 75 kt | 5 h 49 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -39 °C | 70 kt | 6 h 14 min | 7:26 am EDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 39 kt | +37 kt | -49 °C | 83 kt | 5 h 15 min | 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 250/24 | 230/32 11° | 220/37 10° | 220/37 6° | 230/47 -5° | 230/62 -17° | 220/89 -30° | 220/93 -40° | 230/77 -51° |
| RDU | used from 50 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| FLO | used from 198 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| GSP | used from 248 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| ATL | used from 396 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -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 | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 26 ft | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC) |
| FKN Franklin, VA | 40 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| IXA Roanoke Rapids, NC | 79 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,600 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 144 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| LHZ Louisburg, NC | 119 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,200 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 368 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | 139 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 208 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 609 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | 248 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| EHO Shelby, NC | 277 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 846 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| GYH Greenville, SC | 327 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 955 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 386 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 416 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| PDK Atlanta, GA | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 998 ft | 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PDK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PDK
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at PDK 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PDK is before sunrise there (7:39 am EDT (11:39 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, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport.