Seattle-Tacoma International to Columbia Metro Airport SEA → CAE
2,014 nautical miles (2,318 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 099°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC). 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: 2 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 538 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 219 to 648 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 459 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 309 to 997 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 548 to 718 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 588 to 758 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 608 to 818 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 638 to 818 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 957 to 1386 nm out.
- 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 1635 to 1884 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1795 to 1894 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 1854 to 1924 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 1874 to 1974 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 SEA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 18 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, LWS, DLN, BIL, RAP, PIR, ONL, OMA, DSM, COU, STL, EVV, BNA, TYS, GSP, CAE). 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 13 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 15 h 30 min | 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 8 kt | −3 kt | 14 °C | 123 kt | 16 h 22 min | 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 7 kt | −5 kt | 8 °C | 125 kt | 16 h 07 min | 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 260° at 8 kt | −7 kt | 5 °C | 127 kt | 15 h 51 min | 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 11 kt | −9 kt | 2 °C | 129 kt | 15 h 37 min | 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | −10 kt | -2 °C | 130 kt | 15 h 30 min | 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −12 kt | -5 °C | 132 kt | 15 h 15 min | 6:19 pm EDT (22:19 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -10 °C | 134 kt | 15 h 02 min | 6:06 pm EDT (22:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 18 kt | −14 kt | -11 °C | 134 kt | 15 h 02 min | 6:06 pm EDT (22:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 20 kt | −16 kt | -22 °C | 136 kt | 14 h 49 min | 5:53 pm EDT (21:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 28 kt | −24 kt | -34 °C | 144 kt | 13 h 59 min | 5:03 pm EDT (21:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 39 kt | −36 kt | -39 °C | 156 kt | 12 h 55 min | 3:59 pm EDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 41 kt | −39 kt | -46 °C | 159 kt | 12 h 40 min | 3:44 pm EDT (19:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| GEG | used from 150 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 080/16 -2° | 050/17 -7° | 080/9 -10° | 190/33 -21° | 180/31 -32° | L/V -35° | L/V -37° | 270/8 -40° | |
| LWS | used from 199 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| DLN | used from 349 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° | ||
| BIL | used from 498 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| RAP | used from 698 nm out; 109 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 897 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 947 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| OMA | used from 1097 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| DSM | used from 1246 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| COU | used from 1346 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| STL | used from 1446 nm out; 13 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| EVV | used from 1545 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| BNA | used from 1695 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| TYS | used from 1745 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° |
| GSP | used from 1894 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| CAE | used from 1994 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA Seattle, WA | departure | no report just now | 432 ft | ||||
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 120 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,188 ft | ||||
| LWS Lewiston, ID | 229 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,442 ft | ||||
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 469 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,473 ft | ||||
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 658 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,021 ft | ||||
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 828 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,203 ft | ||||
| OMA Omaha, NE | 1186 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 984 ft | ||||
| RDK Red Oak, IA | 1216 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,045 ft | ||||
| BLV Belleville, IL | 1505 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 459 ft | ||||
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 1645 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 407 ft | ||||
| GYH Greenville, SC | 1934 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 955 ft | ||||
| CAE Columbia, SC | destination | no report just now | 235 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,473 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC)
CAE has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 SEA 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 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: Seattle-Tacoma International, Columbia Metro Airport.