Dekalb-Peachtree Airport to William P Hobby Airport PDK → HOU
615 nautical miles (707 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 254° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDK is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) 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: 2 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
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 PDK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 20 nm southeast, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 50 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 50 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 45 nm west (280°) of ATL
- Time
- 01:53 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- C510 at 41,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 10:18 pm EDT (02:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 41,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 377 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
HEZ UA /OV HEZ /TM 0218 /FL410 /TP C510 /SK SKC /TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through HEZ
- Where
- over HEZ
- Time
- 02:18 UTC
- Height
- at 41,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C510
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- A21N , 47 nm southeast, 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 446 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LFT UA /OV LFT/TM 0030/FL0300/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through LFT
- Where
- over LFT
- Time
- 00:30 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- E75L at 27,000 ft, 25 nm south, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 496 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through LCH
- Where
- LCH08510
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- continuous chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 19 nm northwest, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- IH340035
- Time
- 00:42 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- lt chop during the climb
- Remarks
- zhu
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 (ATL, BHM, JAN, LCH, HOU). 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 | 250° at 5 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 5 h 24 min | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 6 kt | +6 kt | 17 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 24 min | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 13 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 27 min | 3:38 am CDT (08:38 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 10 kt | +6 kt | 9 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 24 min | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | +4 kt | 6 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 18 min | 3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +6 kt | 2 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 24 min | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | +8 kt | -2 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 29 min | 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 16 kt | +10 kt | -5 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 35 min | 3:46 am CDT (08:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 21 kt | +12 kt | -16 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 42 min | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 36 kt | +11 kt | -31 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 39 min | 3:50 am CDT (08:50 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 40 kt | +9 kt | -41 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 32 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 36 kt | +4 kt | -52 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 18 min | 3:29 am CDT (08:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 18 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° |
| BHM | used from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| JAN | used from 198 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| LCH | used from 397 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| HOU | used from 545 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDK Atlanta, GA | departure | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 998 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
| CTJ Carrollton, GA | 50 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 1,164 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SCD Sylacauga, AL | 109 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 568 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| EET Alabaster, AL | 129 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 585 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MEI Meridian, MS | 238 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 02:58 UTC |
| MKV Marksville, LA | 426 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| ACP Oakdale, LA | 466 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 107 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX | 545 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| HPY Baytown, TX | 595 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 33 ft | ||||
| HOU Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,164 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for HOU
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
The forecast for PDK, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, 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
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 PDK 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC), at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HOU is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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: Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, William P Hobby Airport.