Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Southwest Georgia Regional SDF → ABY
406 nautical miles (467 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 169°, about 174° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots; ABY is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 509 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 198 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 148 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 247 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 SDF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 at 37,000 ft, 34 nm southwest, 12:27 am EDT (04:27 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 34 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TLH UA /OV TLH353039/TM 0427/FL370/TP B738/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through TLH
- Where
- 39 nm north (353°) of TLH
- Time
- 04:27 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
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 4 forecast points nearest it (LOU, TYS, ATL, CSG). 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 | 320° at 24 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 2 h 53 min | 5:08 am EDT (09:08 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 147 kt | 2 h 46 min | 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 33 kt | −32 kt | 13 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 40 min | 4:55 am EDT (08:55 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 35 kt | −34 kt | 10 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 38 min | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −30 kt | 7 °C | 150 kt | 2 h 42 min | 4:57 am EDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | −28 kt | 2 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 45 min | 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | −28 kt | -2 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 45 min | 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −27 kt | -6 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 46 min | 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 31 kt | −27 kt | -7 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 46 min | 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | −28 kt | -18 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 45 min | 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 56 kt | −53 kt | -33 °C | 173 kt | 2 h 21 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 56 kt | −53 kt | -40 °C | 173 kt | 2 h 21 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 37 kt | −34 kt | -49 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 38 min | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| TYS | used from 99 nm out; 64 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° |
| ATL | used from 198 nm out; 58 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° |
| CSG | used from 297 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | VFR Weather: mist | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | none | 500 ft | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
| BRY Bardstown, KY | 20 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 669 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| AAS Campbellsville, KY | 49 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 921 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| TZV Tompkinsville, KY | 89 nm out, 13 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,036 ft | ||||
| CSV Crossville, TN | 139 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,881 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 188 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DNN Dalton, GA | 208 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 709 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 257 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 05:50 UTC |
| FFC Atlanta, GA | 297 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 807 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| PIM Pine Mountain, GA | 327 nm out, 20 nm west of the line | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | none | 902 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ACJ Americus, GA | 376 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 468 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ABY Albany, GA | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 196 ft | 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,881 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ABY
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, fog nearby, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for SDF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at ABY 7:08 pm EDT (23:08 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABY is before sunrise there (7:37 am EDT (11:37 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Southwest Georgia Regional.