General Downing - Peoria International to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International PIA → MSY
641 nautical miles (738 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 183°, about 185° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:16 am CDT (05:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PIA is VFR, wind calm; MSY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 6 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 PIA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 31 nm east, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 276 nm along the route, 31 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
- Report
- a routine report filed through DYR
- Where
- over DYR
- Time
- 00:13 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZME33
- A319 at 39,000 ft, 4 nm south, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 335 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through MEM
- Where
- over MEM
- Time
- 23:11 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- no chop
- Remarks
- smooth
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 6 forecast points nearest it (SPI, STL, CGI, MEM, JAN, MSY). 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 | 270° at 9 kt | +1 kt | 119 kt | 5 h 23 min | 1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | −3 kt | 16 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 13 min | 1:37 am CDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −2 kt | 12 °C | 122 kt | 5 h 15 min | 1:39 am CDT (06:39 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −4 kt | 8 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 10 min | 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −8 kt | 4 °C | 128 kt | 5 h | 1:24 am CDT (06:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 21 kt | −10 kt | 0 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 56 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −13 kt | -3 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 49 min | 1:13 am CDT (06:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 22 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 45 min | 1:09 am CDT (06:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 28 kt | −22 kt | -18 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 31 min | 12:55 am CDT (05:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 48 kt | −36 kt | -33 °C | 156 kt | 4 h 07 min | 12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 56 kt | −46 kt | -42 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 52 min | 12:16 am CDT (05:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 52 kt | −39 kt | -50 °C | 159 kt | 4 h 02 min | 12:26 am CDT (05:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPI | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| STL | used from 99 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| CGI | used from 148 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/10 | 290/12 17° | 290/18 11° | 300/22 5° | 320/25 -8° | 330/30 -18° | 320/53 -33° | 320/66 -42° | 320/56 -50° |
| MEM | used from 247 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 240/9 | 280/14 17° | 280/20 12° | 290/25 5° | 320/25 -6° | 330/31 -18° | 320/52 -32° | 330/58 -41° | 320/42 -50° |
| JAN | used from 444 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 260/6 | 310/14 17° | 280/13 12° | 290/19 6° | 310/22 -5° | 310/28 -17° | 320/44 -32° | 330/48 -41° | 320/52 -51° |
| MSY | used from 592 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 18° | L/V 12° | 300/11 7° | 330/15 -4° | 320/22 -16° | 330/38 -32° | 350/47 -42° | 340/56 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA Peoria, IL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC) |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 49 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| BLV Belleville, IL | 128 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 459 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| PCD Perryville, MO | 168 nm out, 0 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 372 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 207 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 20:53 UTC |
| NQA Millington, TN | 316 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 322 ft | 23:50 UTC |
| MEM Memphis, TN | 335 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 434 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 162 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| JAN Jackson, MS | 503 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| MCB Mc Comb, MS | 572 nm out, 14 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 413 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HDC Hammond, LA | 612 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| MSY New Orleans, LA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 660 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:16 am CDT (05:16 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSY
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PIA, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 18,000 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 PIA 6:23 pm CDT (23:23 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSY is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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: General Downing - Peoria International, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.