Newport News/Williamsburg International to Tri-Cities Airport PHF → TRI
287 nautical miles (330 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 273° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 12:41 pm EDT (16:41 UTC). Right now PHF is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20; TRI is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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 TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 129 to 257 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the last 79 nm of the route.
- 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 49 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
- C56X at 1,100 ft, 0 nm northwest, 8:48 am EDT (12:48 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1248/FL011/TP C56X/SK OVC011/RM OVC011 DURD RWY25 KPHF
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHF
- Where
- over KPHF
- Time
- 12:48 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft
- Remarks
- OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
- B737 at 1,200 ft, 20 nm southeast, 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORF UA /OV ORF/TM 1156/FL012/TP B737/SK BASE OVC012
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORF
- Where
- over ORF
- Time
- 11:56 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- base OVC012
- BE36 at 2,000 ft, 18 nm north, 8:18 am EDT (12:18 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,000 ft; overcast above 3,500 ft. 40 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC210010/TM 1218/FL020/TP BE36/SK SCT010 OVC035
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 10 nm southwest (210°) of RIC
- Time
- 12:18 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Sky
- SCT010 OVC035
- E145 at 4,000 ft, 14 nm north, 8:06 am EDT (12:06 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the descent 20SW roa bases 4,000 ft. 168 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA170020/TM 1206/FL040/TP E145/SK BKN040/RM DURD 20SW ROA BASES 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of ROA
- Time
- 12:06 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent 20SW roa bases 4,000 ft
- B739 at 33,000 ft, 44 nm south, 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 33. 178 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV GSO/TM 1300/FL330/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 33
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over GSO
- Time
- 13:00 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 33
- BE33 at 7,000 ft, 45 nm south, 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 238 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV BZM/TM 1253/FL070/TP BE33/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 45
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over BZM
- Time
- 12:53 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE33
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 45
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 36 nm south, 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 43. 238 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV BZM330010/TM 1155/FL300/TP A321/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 43
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 10 nm northwest (330°) of BZM
- Time
- 11:55 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 43
- C750 at 43,000 ft, 35 nm south, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 15. 267 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV HMV170030/TM 1314/FL430/TP C750/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 15
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 30 nm south (170°) of HMV
- Time
- 13:14 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C750
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 15
- C210 at 7,000 ft, 48 nm south, 9:31 am EDT (13:31 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. At the destination end, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV SUG040025/TM 1331/FL070/TP C210/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 45
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 25 nm northeast (040°) of SUG
- Time
- 13:31 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C210
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 45
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI). 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 | 340° at 23 kt | +4 kt | 15 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 28 min | 12:42 pm EDT (16:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 25 kt | +3 kt | 14 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:41 pm EDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | +4 kt | 10 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 28 min | 12:42 pm EDT (16:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | +6 kt | 7 °C | 114 kt | 2 h 31 min | 12:45 pm EDT (16:45 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +7 kt | 5 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 32 min | 12:46 pm EDT (16:46 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | +11 kt | 1 °C | 109 kt | 2 h 38 min | 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | +14 kt | -3 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 42 min | 12:56 pm EDT (16:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 31 kt | +17 kt | -6 °C | 103 kt | 2 h 47 min | 1:01 pm EDT (17:01 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | +20 kt | -19 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 52 min | 1:06 pm EDT (17:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 39 kt | +23 kt | -34 °C | 97 kt | 2 h 58 min | 1:12 pm EDT (17:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 45 kt | +26 kt | -42 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 03 min | 1:17 pm EDT (17:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 39 kt | +24 kt | -49 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 1:13 pm EDT (17:13 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 29 nm from the line | 350/24 | 350/28 14° | 340/25 8° | 340/26 5° | 340/40 -6° | 340/44 -19° | 340/48 -33° | 330/45 -42° | 310/38 -50° |
| ROA | used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 310/18 | 350/22 15° | 350/21 9° | 340/24 6° | 320/31 -6° | 310/34 -19° | 310/39 -35° | 310/46 -42° | 310/33 -49° |
| TRI | used from 198 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 340/26 15° | 330/23 10° | 330/23 6° | 290/28 -6° | 290/32 -19° | 290/36 -34° | 310/47 -41° | 320/47 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHF Newport News, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 42 ft | 9:54 am EDT (13:54 UTC) |
| AKQ Wakefield, VA | 30 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 111 ft | 13:54 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 69 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| CXE Chase City, VA | 99 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 503 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| DAN Danville, VA | 139 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 571 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| MTV Martinsville, VA | 168 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 948 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| HLX Galax Hillsville, VA | 208 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 2,693 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| VJI Abingdon, VA | 267 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 8 mi | 900 ft | 2,087 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 1,518 ft | 9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,693 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TRI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:41 pm EDT (16:41 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TRI
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 200 feet
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 TRI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 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, Tri-Cities Airport.