Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Wilmington International SDF → ILM
446 nautical miles (513 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 119°, about 124° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 3 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), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 50 to 168 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 99 to 238 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft, from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 188 to 277 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 SDF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 139 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- PA46 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 208 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 10 nm east (090°) of HMV
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Turbulence
- light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-44
- B712 at 600 ft, 19 nm northeast, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 50 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 19 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 50 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
- S22T descending, 6 nm south, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 188 nm along the route, 6 nm south 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 RY23 tri
- PC24 at 4,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 238 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast 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
- SF50 at 7,000 ft, 9 nm southwest, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 258 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest 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
- B763 at 3,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 307 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast 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, 43 nm northeast, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 307 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast 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
- SR22 at 8,000 ft, 32 nm southwest, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. 357 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FLO UA /OV BBP/TM 0018/FL080/TP SR22/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM THIN LAYER BELOW BUT CAN SEE LIGHTS FROM THE GROUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through FLO
- Where
- over BBP
- Time
- 00:18 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- thin layer below but can see lights from the ground
- E75L at 4,000 ft, 10 nm north, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 386 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAY UA /OV KFAY/TM 2245/FL040/TP E75L/SK BASES 045
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAY
- Where
- over KFAY
- Time
- 22:45 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- bases 4,500 ft
- E145 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm north, 8:38 pm EDT (00:38 UTC): a broken layer from 1,800 ft to 3,000 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 0038/FL018/TP E145/SK BKN018-TOP030
- Report
- a routine report filed through ILM
- Where
- over ILM
- Time
- 00:38 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,800 ft, tops 3,000 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 5 forecast points nearest it (LOU, TRI, RDU, FLO, ILM). 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 | 260° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 3 h 23 min | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 11 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 11 min | 12:44 am EDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 10 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 08 min | 12:41 am EDT (04:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 8 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 07 min | 12:40 am EDT (04:40 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 5 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 08 min | 12:41 am EDT (04:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 1 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 07 min | 12:40 am EDT (04:40 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 26 kt | −24 kt | -2 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 06 min | 12:39 am EDT (04:39 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 28 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 05 min | 12:38 am EDT (04:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 28 kt | −26 kt | -7 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 03 min | 12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 34 kt | −26 kt | -19 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 03 min | 12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 41 kt | −21 kt | -31 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 10 min | 12:43 am EDT (04:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 41 kt | −16 kt | -39 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 17 min | 12:50 am EDT (04:50 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 37 kt | −19 kt | -49 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 13 min | 12:46 am EDT (04:46 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; 24 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° |
| TRI | used from 99 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| RDU | used from 297 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -52° |
| FLO | used from 347 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 240/25 | 270/23 11° | 250/36 10° | 240/38 7° | 240/50 -4° | 230/66 -15° | 220/75 -30° | 210/77 -40° | 220/73 -52° |
| ILM | used from 396 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/27 | 220/35 14° | 230/45 13° | 230/48 8° | 240/59 -4° | 230/57 -14° | 220/66 -30° | 210/66 -40° | 210/59 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | no report just now | 500 ft | ||||
| BRY Bardstown, KY | 20 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 669 ft | ||||
| LEX Lexington, KY | 50 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 979 ft | ||||
| LOZ London, KY | 99 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,212 ft | ||||
| LNP Wise, VA | 168 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,684 ft | ||||
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 188 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,518 ft | ||||
| HKY Hickory, NC | 258 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,189 ft | ||||
| JQF Concord, NC | 297 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 704 ft | ||||
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 317 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 609 ft | ||||
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 386 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 189 ft | ||||
| EYF Elizabethtown, NC | 406 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 131 ft | ||||
| ILM Wilmington, NC | destination | no report just now | 31 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ILM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
ILM has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, 366 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 2 nm from the route, 406 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ILM is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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, Wilmington International.