Sacramento International to Columbia Metro Airport SMF → CAE
1,963 nautical miles (2,259 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 073° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:04 pm EDT (19:04 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 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 199 to 558 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 618 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 269 to 877 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 458 to 847 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 618 to 797 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 857 nm along the route.
- 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 867 to 1315 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 1654 to 1773 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1783 to 1813 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 1813 to 1923 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 1873 nm along 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 SMF.
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 19 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, ALS, PUB, GCK, ICT, TUL, SGF, CGI, MEM, BNA, HSV, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 21 °C | 134 kt | 14 h 39 min | 5:45 pm EDT (21:45 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −16 kt | 11 °C | 136 kt | 14 h 26 min | 5:32 pm EDT (21:32 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −16 kt | 8 °C | 136 kt | 14 h 26 min | 5:32 pm EDT (21:32 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 13 min | 5:19 pm EDT (21:19 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 0 °C | 139 kt | 14 h 07 min | 5:13 pm EDT (21:13 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -4 °C | 140 kt | 14 h 01 min | 5:07 pm EDT (21:07 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 13 h 49 min | 4:55 pm EDT (20:55 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 26 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 13 h 49 min | 4:55 pm EDT (20:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 32 kt | −28 kt | -20 °C | 148 kt | 13 h 16 min | 4:22 pm EDT (20:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 42 kt | −40 kt | -30 °C | 160 kt | 12 h 16 min | 3:22 pm EDT (19:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 45 kt | −44 kt | -37 °C | 164 kt | 11 h 58 min | 3:04 pm EDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 38 kt | −40 kt | -47 °C | 160 kt | 12 h 16 min | 3:22 pm EDT (19:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| RNO | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| BIH | used from 149 nm out; 92 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 199 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BCE | used from 398 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| GJT | used from 498 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| ALS | used from 697 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| PUB | used from 747 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| GCK | used from 897 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| ICT | used from 1046 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| TUL | used from 1195 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| SGF | used from 1245 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| CGI | used from 1445 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| MEM | used from 1544 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| BNA | used from 1594 nm out; 56 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° |
| HSV | used from 1694 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| TYS | used from 1743 nm out; 63 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 1843 nm out; 43 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 1943 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMF Sacramento, CA | departure | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| PVF Placerville, CA | 40 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,585 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 319 nm out, 24 nm north of the line | no report just now | 6,259 ft | ||||
| CNY Moab, UT | 558 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 4,579 ft | ||||
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 608 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,861 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 807 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| ICT Wichita, KS | 1136 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,332 ft | ||||
| JLN Joplin, MO | 1285 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 977 ft | ||||
| MKL Jackson, TN | 1564 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 434 ft | ||||
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 1753 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 682 ft | ||||
| GRD Greenwood, SC | 1903 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | no report just now | 631 ft | ||||
| CAE Columbia, SC | destination | no report just now | 235 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 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, 3:04 pm EDT (19:04 UTC)
CAE has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, 757 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 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: Sacramento International, Columbia Metro Airport.