Newport News/Williamsburg International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International PHF → SDF
444 nautical miles (511 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 290° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC). Right now PHF is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 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 TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 69 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). Over the route from 39 to 148 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 69 to 158 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 118 to 227 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 158 to 315 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 276 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 PHF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, CRW, CVG, LOU). 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 24 kt | +15 kt | 105 kt | 4 h 14 min | 1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +14 kt | 12 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 11 min | 1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | +14 kt | 9 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 11 min | 1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | +15 kt | 6 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 14 min | 1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +16 kt | 2 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 16 min | 1:24 pm EDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | +19 kt | -1 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 24 min | 1:32 pm EDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 32 kt | +22 kt | -5 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 32 min | 1:40 pm EDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 34 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 4 h 38 min | 1:46 pm EDT (17:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 39 kt | +26 kt | -20 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 43 min | 1:51 pm EDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 45 kt | +27 kt | -34 °C | 93 kt | 4 h 46 min | 1:54 pm EDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 51 kt | +32 kt | -41 °C | 88 kt | 5 h 03 min | 2:11 pm EDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 44 kt | +38 kt | -49 °C | 82 kt | 5 h 25 min | 2:33 pm EDT (18:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| ROA | used from 99 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| CRW | used from 197 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| CVG | used from 345 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| LOU | used from 394 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHF Newport News, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 42 ft | 9:04 am EDT (13:04 UTC) |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 39 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 167 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 69 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 128 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 168 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,500 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 17 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 1,175 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 187 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 4,200 ft | 2,301 ft | 13:45 UTC |
| BKW Beckley, WV | 227 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 2,503 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| SJS Prestonsburg, KY | 296 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 400 ft | 1,221 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 345 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 11:22 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 394 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| FFT Frankfort, KY | 404 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 812 ft | 12:53 UTC | |
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 25,000 ft | 500 ft | 8:56 am EDT (12:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,503 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PHF, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 PHF 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 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: Newport News/Williamsburg International, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.