Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Newport News/Williamsburg International SDF → PHF
444 nautical miles (511 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 095°, about 100° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots; PHF is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 7 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: 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
- SIGMET E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120255 MKCE WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E VALID UNTIL 0455Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 345 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 138 to 306 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 256 to 276 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
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 4 nm southwest, 9:09 pm EDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 4 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B712 at 600 ft, 5 nm southeast, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 49 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast 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
- B737 at 35,000 ft, 47 nm south, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 99 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOZ
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
- Time
- 01:25 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 37 nm south, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 246 nm along the route, 37 nm south 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
- E145 at 4,000 ft, 17 nm south, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 276 nm along the route, 17 nm south 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
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 5 forecast points nearest it (LOU, CVG, CRW, ROA, RIC). 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 21 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 3 h 14 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 3 h 16 min | 2:46 am EDT (06:46 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −14 kt | 11 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 19 min | 2:49 am EDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −13 kt | 7 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 20 min | 2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 22 min | 2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −14 kt | 0 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 19 min | 2:49 am EDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −17 kt | -3 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 14 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 10 min | 2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 24 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 10 min | 2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 27 kt | −23 kt | -20 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 06 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 33 kt | −30 kt | -33 °C | 150 kt | 2 h 58 min | 2:28 am EDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 41 kt | −39 kt | -39 °C | 159 kt | 2 h 48 min | 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 33 kt | −32 kt | -48 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 55 min | 2:25 am EDT (06:25 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; 22 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° |
| CVG | used from 49 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 99 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| ROA | used from 246 nm out; 18 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° |
| RIC | used from 345 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
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 | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC) |
| FFT Frankfort, KY | 39 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 812 ft | 02:53 UTC | |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 49 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 99 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| SJS Prestonsburg, KY | 148 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,221 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BKW Beckley, WV | 217 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 8 mi | 300 ft | 2,503 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 256 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 276 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | 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 | 02:54 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 315 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 938 ft | 03:24 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 375 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 404 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 167 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| PHF Newport News, VA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 42 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,503 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHF
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 2 miles, rain showers
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 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 PHF 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHF is before sunrise there (7:10 am EDT (11:10 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, Newport News/Williamsburg International.