Plan a flight · Sun 9:08 pm EDT (01:08 UTC)

Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) to Columbia Metro Airport ROA → CAE

211 nautical miles (243 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 196°, about 204° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:49 pm EDT (02:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ROA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots; CAE is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 42 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 58 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 19 to 77 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). Near the route, 29 nm along 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 ROA.

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

E145 at 4,000 ft, 5 nm west, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. At the departure end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA
E145 at 2,200 ft, 5 nm west, 8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. At the departure end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA
CRJ7 at 2,800 ft, 38 nm northwest, 6:19 pm EDT (22:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LWB UA /OV KLWB/TM 2219/FL028/TP CRJ7/SK BASES029
```
Report
a routine report filed through LWB
Where
over KLWB
Time
22:19 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASES029
C52C at 12,500 ft, 24 nm west, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 19 nm along the route, 24 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none
B39M at 36,000 ft, 30 nm west, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. 19 nm along the route, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSK UA /OV PSK/TM 2212/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-15
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSK
Where
over PSK
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-15
PC24 at 4,000 ft, 35 nm west, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 48 nm along the route, 35 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
90 nm north (005°) of CLT
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Weather
fi s
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
18 final
B763 at 3,000 ft, 25 nm east, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 67 nm along the route, 25 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 25 nm east, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 67 nm along the route, 25 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
CRJ7 descending, 21 nm east, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 77 nm along the route, 21 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 36 nm west, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 96 nm along the route, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
PA32 at 7,000 ft, 30 nm west, 8:17 pm EDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV KAIK360010/TM 0017/FL070/TP PA32/WX FV99SM/TA 8/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
10 nm north (360°) of KAIK
Time
00:17 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Weather
flight visibility 99 miles
Temperature
8 °C
Remarks
smooth
C525 at 2,300 ft, 50 nm southwest, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): light turbulence, scattered clouds above 2,300 ft. At the destination end, 50 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV AGS090006/TM 2215/FL023/TP C525/SK SCT 023/TB LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
6 nm east (090°) of AGS
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C525
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,300 ft
Turbulence
light turbulence

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 3 forecast points nearest it (ROA, 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
4,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	1 h 44 min	10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	−5 kt	11 °C	125 kt	1 h 41 min	10:49 pm EDT (02:49 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	−2 kt	9 °C	122 kt	1 h 44 min	10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 19 kt	+2 kt	7 °C	118 kt	1 h 47 min	10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	+7 kt	4 °C	113 kt	1 h 52 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+12 kt	0 °C	108 kt	1 h 57 min	11:05 pm EDT (03:05 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	+18 kt	-3 °C	102 kt	2 h 04 min	11:12 pm EDT (03:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 31 kt	+23 kt	-5 °C	97 kt	2 h 11 min	11:19 pm EDT (03:19 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 48 kt	+39 kt	-18 °C	81 kt	2 h 36 min	11:44 pm EDT (03:44 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 69 kt	+64 kt	-30 °C	56 kt	3 h 46 min	12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 75 kt	+67 kt	-40 °C	53 kt	3 h 59 min	1:07 am EDT (05:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 67 kt	+60 kt	-49 °C	60 kt	3 h 31 min	12:39 am EDT (04:39 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
ROA	used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
GSP	used from 96 nm out; 83 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
CAE	used from 144 nm out; 43 nm from the line	260/27	310/26 11°	280/31 9°	270/36 7°	250/39 -4°	230/57 -16°	220/74 -30°	220/83 -40°	220/73 -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
ROA Roanoke, VA	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots	6 mi	3,000 ft	1,175 ft	8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC)
MTV Martinsville, VA	38 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,400 ft	948 ft	23:35 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	77 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	969 ft	00:54 UTC
JQF Concord, NC	125 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	704 ft	00:50 UTC
CLT Charlotte, NC	134 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	747 ft	00:52 UTC
FDW Winnsboro, SC	192 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	577 ft	00:55 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,175 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, 10:49 pm EDT (02:49 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 ROA, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet and more above
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet and more above
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 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 ROA 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 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 after sunset there (6:55 pm EDT (22:55 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 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: Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field), Columbia Metro Airport.