Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) to Lovell Field ROA → CHA
288 nautical miles (332 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 243°, about 251° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ROA is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; CHA is VFR, wind calm. 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 109 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 278 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 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 runway 06 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 runway 06 KROA
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 4 nm southwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 30 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest 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
- CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 40 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over BKW
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- none
- S22T descending, 10 nm north, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 129 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 23 tri
- A320 descending, 13 nm northwest, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 209 nm along the route, 13 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 4 northeast tys
- Time
- 01:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Remarks
- base 2,100 ft
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 3 forecast points nearest it (ROA, TRI, TYS). 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 22 kt | +2 kt | 11 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 26 min | 1:37 am EDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −1 kt | 11 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 23 min | 1:34 am EDT (05:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | −2 kt | 8 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 22 min | 1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −2 kt | 5 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 22 min | 1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 33 kt | −2 kt | 2 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 22 min | 1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 34 kt | 0 | -2 °C | 120 kt | 2 h 24 min | 1:35 am EDT (05:35 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 35 kt | +2 kt | -5 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 26 min | 1:37 am EDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 36 kt | +3 kt | -8 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 28 min | 1:39 am EDT (05:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 35 kt | +6 kt | -20 °C | 114 kt | 2 h 32 min | 1:43 am EDT (05:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 41 kt | +7 kt | -33 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 33 min | 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 44 kt | +9 kt | -38 °C | 111 kt | 2 h 36 min | 1:47 am EDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 40 kt | +9 kt | -47 °C | 111 kt | 2 h 36 min | 1:47 am EDT (05:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 50 nm out; 53 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 149 nm out; 41 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° |
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 2,900 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 1,175 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
| BCB Blacksburg, VA | 20 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 2,119 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA | 70 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14 | 5 mi | 700 ft | 2,558 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| VJI Abingdon, VA | 109 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 500 ft | 2,087 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 129 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 1,518 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GKT Sevierville, TN | 189 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 1,013 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 219 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 986 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| RZR Cleveland, TN | 268 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 865 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,558 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CHA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:33 am EDT (05:33 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CHA
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ROA, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north 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 CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CHA is before sunrise there (7:44 am EDT (11:44 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: Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field), Lovell Field.