Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Lovell Field SDF → CHA
190 nautical miles (219 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 172°, about 177° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (13,500 ft, a 35-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; CHA is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 5 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 route from 76 to 171 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 124 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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
- E170 climbing, 0 nm north, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over SDF
- Time
- 22:26 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- B022 T036
- M600 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm northeast, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOU
- Where
- over DURD
- Time
- 22:12 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- M600
- Sky
- OVC018-TOPO37
- A319 at 25,000 ft, 26 nm west, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 67 nm along the route, 26 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 17 nm east (070°) of BWG
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- none
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm east, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-03. 143 nm along the route, 45 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV VXV270025/TM 2222/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP 330/RM ZTLFD-03
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 25 nm west (270°) of VXV
- Time
- 22:22 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop at 33,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-03
- T206 at 9,000 ft, 10 nm west, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): remarks: ZME60. 162 nm along the route, 10 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA340032/TM 2247/FL090/TP T206/SK TOP070/RM ZME60
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 32 nm north (340°) of CHA
- Time
- 22:47 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- T206
- Sky
- TOP070
- Remarks
- ZME60
- B712 at 3,000 ft, 5 nm south, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of CHA
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- SCT030-TOP032 C
- CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 0 nm west, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- wind from 090° at 5 knots
- Time
- 22:51 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (LOU, BNA, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 1 h 26 min | 10:28 pm EDT (02:28 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 142 kt | 1 h 20 min | 10:22 pm EDT (02:22 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −26 kt | 11 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 18 min | 10:20 pm EDT (02:20 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | −29 kt | 8 °C | 149 kt | 1 h 17 min | 10:19 pm EDT (02:19 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 35 kt | −33 kt | 5 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 15 min | 10:17 pm EDT (02:17 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 37 kt | −35 kt | 1 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 37 kt | −35 kt | -4 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 37 kt | −35 kt | -7 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 37 kt | −35 kt | -8 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 38 kt | −35 kt | -19 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 41 kt | −33 kt | -34 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 15 min | 10:17 pm EDT (02:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 41 kt | −34 kt | -39 °C | 154 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 33 kt | −28 kt | -47 °C | 148 kt | 1 h 17 min | 10:19 pm EDT (02:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| BNA | used from 95 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| TYS | used from 143 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC) |
| BRY Bardstown, KY | 19 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 669 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| TZV Tompkinsville, KY | 86 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,036 ft | ||||
| SRB Sparta, TN | 124 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.25 mi | 1,900 ft | 1,025 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 682 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,036 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, 10:16 pm EDT (02:16 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 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 SDF, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 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 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 after sunset there (7:11 pm EDT (23:11 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, Lovell Field.