Shenandoah Valley Regional to Altoona/Blair County SHD → AOO
125 nautical miles (144 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 012°, about 021° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:35 pm EDT (02:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SHD is marginal VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 4 knots; AOO is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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: 8 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Over the first 96 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- SIGMET 2E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, 106 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2E VALID UNTIL 0255Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD AND NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS FROM 30NE SAX-30SSW HTO-30ESE EMI-50WSW HAR-30NE SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22020KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 106 nm of 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 SHD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 3 nm east, 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft, remarks: during the descent FRDMM7 star. 58 nm along the route, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
OKV UA /OV ESL100020/TM 2344/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS MOD CAT 180-225/RM DURD FRDMM7 STAR
- Report
- a routine report filed through OKV
- Where
- 20 nm east (100°) of ESL
- Time
- 23:44 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent FRDMM7 star
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 42 nm west, 7:49 pm EDT (23:49 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: zob. 96 nm along the route, 42 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
2G9 UA /OV IHD/TM 2349/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD 300/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through 2G9
- Where
- over IHD
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- E170 at 500 ft, 22 nm east, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- over CHO
- Time
- 00:01 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- CRJ7 at 1,600 ft, 38 nm northeast, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): overcast above 1,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY06 KUNV. At the destination end, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
UNV UA /OV KUNV240002/TM 0020/FL016/TP CRJ7/SK BKN-OVC016/RM DURD RY06 KUNV
- Report
- a routine report filed through UNV
- Where
- 2 nm southwest (240°) of KUNV
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,600 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- BKN-OVC016
- Remarks
- during the descent RY06 KUNV
- E145 at 2,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC): overcast above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent RY06 KUNV. At the destination end, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
UNV UA /OV KUNV240002/TM 2310/FL020/TP E145/SK OVC020/RM DURD RY06 KUNV
- Report
- a routine report filed through UNV
- Where
- 2 nm southwest (240°) of KUNV
- Time
- 23:10 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent RY06 KUNV
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 2 forecast points nearest it (EKN, PSB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | −4 kt | 13 °C | 124 kt | 1 h | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 11 kt | −2 kt | 10 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 01 min | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 260° at 4 kt | −1 kt | 6 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 02 min | 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 170° at 5 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 1 h | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 190° at 8 kt | −8 kt | 0 °C | 128 kt | 59 min | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 12 kt | −12 kt | -4 °C | 132 kt | 57 min | 10:50 pm EDT (02:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 17 kt | −16 kt | -8 °C | 136 kt | 55 min | 10:48 pm EDT (02:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 18 kt | −17 kt | -9 °C | 137 kt | 55 min | 10:48 pm EDT (02:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 39 kt | −35 kt | -20 °C | 155 kt | 48 min | 10:41 pm EDT (02:41 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 61 kt | −57 kt | -32 °C | 177 kt | 42 min | 10:35 pm EDT (02:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 61 kt | −54 kt | -38 °C | 174 kt | 43 min | 10:36 pm EDT (02:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 53 kt | −42 kt | -48 °C | 162 kt | 46 min | 10:39 pm EDT (02:39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKN | used from 0 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| PSB | used from 96 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet Weather: heavy rain | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 1,600 ft | 1,201 ft | 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC) |
| LUA Luray, VA | 29 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 902 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| CBE Cumberland, MD | 77 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | 1,500 ft | 757 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| AOO Altoona, PA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,503 ft | 9:42 pm EDT (01:42 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,503 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AOO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:35 pm EDT (02:35 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility 3 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for AOO
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility 3 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
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 SHD 6:42 pm EDT (22:42 UTC), at AOO 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AOO is after sunset there (6:39 pm EDT (22:39 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: Shenandoah Valley Regional, Altoona/Blair County.