Plan a flight · Sun 9:33 pm EDT (01:33 UTC)

Tri-Cities Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International TRI → MSY

554 nautical miles (637 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 235° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:59 am CDT (05:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TRI is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots; MSY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 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 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
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 first 40 nm of the route.
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 first 158 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 237 to 415 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 TRI.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 23 nm east, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. At the departure end, 23 nm east 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
A21N at 33,000 ft, 27 nm southeast, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 366 nm along the route, 27 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC360030/TM 2251/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
30 nm north (360°) of MVC
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B737 at 26,000 ft, 47 nm southeast, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 386 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC/TM 2319/FL260/TP B737/TB CONS MOD CHOP 260-280/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
over MVC
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
S22T descending, 2 nm northeast, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. At the departure end, 2 nm northeast 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
CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 4 nm east, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 49 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
40 nm east (090°) of VXV
Time
22:46 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-42
B712 at 3,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 158 nm along the route, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
5 nm south (180°) of CHA
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
SCT030-TOP032 C
CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 30 nm northwest, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 158 nm along the route, 30 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
wind from 090° at 5 knots
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
B737 at 38,000 ft, 49 nm southeast, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 267 nm along the route, 49 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
B712 at 30,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 346 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2309/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZME46
A21N at 34,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 346 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2305/FL340/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZME46
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. 366 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1770 3230N 08800W 2255 F340 349/061KT TB CONT LGT CHOP CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 7 forecast points nearest it (TRI, TYS, ATL, BHM, MGM, MOB, MSY). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	320° at 18 kt	0	11 °C	120 kt	4 h 37 min	1:10 am CDT (06:10 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	−5 kt	14 °C	125 kt	4 h 26 min	12:59 am CDT (05:59 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 25 kt	−4 kt	11 °C	124 kt	4 h 28 min	1:01 am CDT (06:01 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	−4 kt	8 °C	124 kt	4 h 28 min	1:01 am CDT (06:01 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 28 kt	−3 kt	4 °C	123 kt	4 h 30 min	1:03 am CDT (06:03 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 28 kt	−1 kt	0 °C	121 kt	4 h 35 min	1:08 am CDT (06:08 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 27 kt	+1 kt	-4 °C	119 kt	4 h 39 min	1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 27 kt	+2 kt	-7 °C	118 kt	4 h 42 min	1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 29 kt	+4 kt	-18 °C	116 kt	4 h 47 min	1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 33 kt	+3 kt	-33 °C	117 kt	4 h 44 min	1:17 am CDT (06:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 31 kt	0	-41 °C	120 kt	4 h 37 min	1:10 am CDT (06:10 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 28 kt	+3 kt	-50 °C	117 kt	4 h 44 min	1:17 am CDT (06:17 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
TRI	used from 0 nm out; 25 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°
TYS	used from 49 nm out; 25 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
ATL	used from 148 nm out; 59 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
BHM	used from 198 nm out; 57 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
MGM	used from 297 nm out; 46 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
MOB	used from 395 nm out; 56 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -50°
MSY	used from 494 nm out; 35 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -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
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	departure	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	1,518 ft	8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC)
GCY Greeneville, TN	30 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 800 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots	4 mi	500 ft	1,607 ft	01:15 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	79 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	986 ft	01:14 UTC
DNN Dalton, GA	158 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,200 ft	709 ft	23:35 UTC
RMG Rome, GA	188 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	644 ft	00:53 UTC
PLR Pell City, AL	257 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	484 ft	23:35 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	277 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	00:53 UTC
SEM Selma, AL	336 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37		3,300 ft	166 ft	01:30 UTC
HBG Hattiesburg, MS	465 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	150 ft	00:53 UTC
HSA Bay St Louis, MS	504 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	22 ft	23:50 UTC
MSY New Orleans, LA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	3 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,607 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:59 am CDT (05:59 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSY

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for TRI, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, fog nearby, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 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 TRI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSY is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Tri-Cities Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.