Plan a flight · Sun 11:36 pm EDT (03:36 UTC)

Oakland County International to Columbia Metro Airport PTK → CAE

535 nautical miles (616 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 168°, about 175° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PTK is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 3 knots; CAE is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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: 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 386 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 258 to 406 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 357 to 456 nm out.

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 PTK.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

C560 at 3,000 ft, 0 nm south, 10:28 pm EDT (02:28 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 6 W/TM 0228/FL030/TP C560/SK BASES 019 TOPS 030 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 west
Time
02:28 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
bases 1,900 ft tops 3,000 ft overcast
C25B at 2,000 ft, 0 nm south, 10:18 pm EDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 2 W/TM 0218/FL020/TP C25B/SK BASES 020 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
2 west
Time
02:18 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
bases 2,000 ft overcast
A320 descending, 23 nm northwest, 10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. At the departure end, 23 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 0209/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY18 FNT
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
over FNT
Time
02:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
on final runway 18 fnt
A320 descending, 28 nm northwest, 9:35 pm EDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. At the departure end, 28 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT270008/TM 0135/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC019 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY09 FNT
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
8 nm west (270°) of FNT
Time
01:35 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
on final runway 09 fnt
SR22 at 1,300 ft, 3 nm west, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
3 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
bases 1,900 ft overcast
C550 at 2,300 ft, 0 nm south, 8:46 pm EDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
4W
Time
00:46 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C550
Remarks
fis 4 mile final
A320 descending, 4 nm northwest, 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. 30 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
03:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
at 1,400 ft overcast
CRJ7 at 600 ft, 4 nm northwest, 10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. 30 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
02:07 UTC
Height
at the surface
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 1,500 ft
CRJ7 descending, 4 nm northwest, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. 30 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
final 3R
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 2,800 ft
PA44 descending, 30 nm west, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. 59 nm along the route, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
PA44
Sky
BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
Weather
fog
C525 descending, 30 nm west, 9:41 pm EDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 59 nm along the route, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
01:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C525
Sky
TOPS035 BKN010
Weather
2SM
BCS3 climbing, 11 nm southwest, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 159 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
B010

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (CLE, CMH, CRW, TRI, GSP, CAE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	330° at 16 kt	−15 kt		135 kt	3 h 58 min	3:34 am EDT (07:34 UTC)
5,500 ft	340° at 19 kt	−19 kt	11 °C	139 kt	3 h 51 min	3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC)
7,500 ft	340° at 21 kt	−21 kt	10 °C	141 kt	3 h 48 min	3:24 am EDT (07:24 UTC)
9,500 ft	340° at 23 kt	−23 kt	7 °C	143 kt	3 h 44 min	3:20 am EDT (07:20 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	−22 kt	4 °C	142 kt	3 h 46 min	3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 25 kt	−24 kt	0 °C	144 kt	3 h 43 min	3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 28 kt	−27 kt	-4 °C	147 kt	3 h 38 min	3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 31 kt	−30 kt	-8 °C	150 kt	3 h 34 min	3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 32 kt	−30 kt	-9 °C	150 kt	3 h 34 min	3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 39 kt	−37 kt	-20 °C	157 kt	3 h 24 min	3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 41 kt	−38 kt	-35 °C	158 kt	3 h 23 min	2:59 am EDT (06:59 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 48 kt	−42 kt	-41 °C	162 kt	3 h 18 min	2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	330° at 47 kt	−44 kt	-48 °C	164 kt	3 h 16 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 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
CLE	used from 0 nm out; 83 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -49°
CMH	used from 99 nm out; 39 nm from the line	330/15	340/22 14°	340/24 9°	340/23 4°	340/35 -9°	340/49 -20°	340/58 -37°	330/70 -42°	340/55 -47°
CRW	used from 198 nm out; 55 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
TRI	used from 347 nm out; 32 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
GSP	used from 446 nm out; 42 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°
CAE	used from 495 nm out; 20 nm from the line	330/15	330/13 12°	330/22 9°	300/26 6°	280/33 -7°	270/38 -18°	250/45 -33°	240/46 -40°	270/38 -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
PTK Pontiac, MI	departure	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	5 mi	500 ft	980 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)
DTW Detroit, MI	30 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,000 ft	645 ft	02:53 UTC
PCW Port Clinton, OH	69 nm out, 10 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,700 ft	590 ft	03:15 UTC
CMH Columbus, OH	159 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	815 ft	03:15 UTC
LCK Columbus, OH	168 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	743 ft	02:55 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	258 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist	from the west (280°) at 5 knots	2.5 mi	700 ft	828 ft	02:51 UTC
EBD Williamson, WV	307 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	no report just now				1,883 ft
JFZ Richlands, VA	347 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light rain	from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots	0.5 mi	200 ft	2,653 ft	03:15 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	426 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	02:53 UTC
CLT Charlotte, NC	466 nm out, 23 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	747 ft	02:52 UTC
FDW Winnsboro, SC	515 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	577 ft	03:15 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	destination	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,653 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CAE

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for PTK, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 PTK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CAE is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Oakland County International, Columbia Metro Airport.