Oakland County International to Tampa International PTK → TPA
883 nautical miles (1,016 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 177°, about 184° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:59 am EDT (08:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PTK is IFR, wind calm; TPA is VFR, wind variable 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 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 387 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 288 to 496 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 397 to 506 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
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (CLE, CMH, CRW, TRI, TYS, GSP, ATL, SAV, JAX, PIE). 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 16 kt | −14 kt | 11 °C | 134 kt | 6 h 35 min | 5:18 am EDT (09:18 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −16 kt | 13 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 30 min | 5:13 am EDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −17 kt | 8 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 4 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −17 kt | 0 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 25 kt | −17 kt | -4 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 26 kt | −17 kt | -7 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 31 kt | −21 kt | -19 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 16 min | 4:59 am EDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 32 kt | −19 kt | -34 °C | 139 kt | 6 h 21 min | 5:04 am EDT (09:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 35 kt | −18 kt | -41 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 24 min | 5:07 am EDT (09:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 31 kt | −19 kt | -49 °C | 139 kt | 6 h 21 min | 5:04 am EDT (09:04 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; 85 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; 40 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 248 nm out; 73 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 298 nm out; 59 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° | |
| TYS | used from 397 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| GSP | used from 446 nm out; 34 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° |
| ATL | used from 546 nm out; 86 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° |
| SAV | used from 595 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| JAX | used from 645 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -52° |
| PIE | used from 794 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTK Pontiac, MI | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 500 ft | 980 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| DTW Detroit, MI | 30 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 2,000 ft | 645 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| TZR Columbus, OH | 169 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 904 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| RZT Chillicothe, OH | 198 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 725 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 318 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 1,256 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 437 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 526 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 01:51 UTC |
| IIY Washington, GA | 536 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 646 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| EZM Eastman, GA | 625 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 303 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| LCQ Lake City, FL | 754 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 200 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 853 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 76 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| TPA Tampa, FL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 26 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TPA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:59 am EDT (08:59 UTC)
Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TPA
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 TPA 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TPA is before sunrise there (7:28 am EDT (11:28 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: Oakland County International, Tampa International.