MC Ghee Tyson Airport to Norfolk International TYS → ORF
382 nautical miles (440 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 078°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TYS is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots; ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 26. 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
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 196 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 49 to 226 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 88 to 118 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 TYS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PA46 at 23,000 ft, 18 nm north, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 108 nm along the route, 18 nm north 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
- A320 descending, 4 nm northeast, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. At the departure end, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 4 northeast tys
- Time
- 01:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Remarks
- base 2,100 ft
- S22T descending, 25 nm north, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 88 nm along the route, 25 nm north 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 runway 23 tri
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 42 nm north, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 176 nm along the route, 42 nm north 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
- B763 at 3,000 ft, 17 nm south, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 206 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- heved
- Time
- 23:26 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft
- B763 descending, 17 nm south, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 206 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- 10 northeast gso
- Time
- 23:24 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft
- BCS3 at 600 ft, 43 nm north, 8:06 pm EDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 333 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- over RIC
- Time
- 00:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- bases 600 ft
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 6 forecast points nearest it (TYS, TRI, ROA, RDU, RIC, ORF). 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 | 230° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 2 h 45 min | 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 11 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 46 min | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 10 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 46 min | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 8 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 46 min | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 6 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 45 min | 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 2 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 41 min | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -2 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 38 min | 12:48 am EDT (04:48 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -5 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 34 min | 12:44 am EDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 30 kt | −29 kt | -6 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 34 min | 12:44 am EDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 46 kt | −43 kt | -18 °C | 163 kt | 2 h 21 min | 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 58 kt | −49 kt | -30 °C | 169 kt | 2 h 16 min | 12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 61 kt | −48 kt | -39 °C | 168 kt | 2 h 16 min | 12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 56 kt | −47 kt | -50 °C | 167 kt | 2 h 17 min | 12:27 am EDT (04:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS | used from 0 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° |
| TRI | used from 49 nm out; 26 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° | |
| ROA | used from 147 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 280/9 | 290/15 12° | 290/11 8° | 210/6 3° | 210/30 -6° | 220/46 -19° | 210/74 -30° | 220/78 -39° | 220/64 -48° |
| RDU | used from 196 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -52° |
| RIC | used from 294 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
| ORF | used from 343 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 210/45 | 210/41 15° | 210/39 13° | 220/37 7° | 230/55 -5° | 230/65 -16° | 220/71 -30° | 220/75 -40° | 220/72 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS Knoxville, TN | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 986 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| GKT Sevierville, TN | 20 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | variable at 6 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 1,013 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| GCY Greeneville, TN | 59 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots, gusting to 15 | 1.5 mi | 400 ft | 1,607 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 88 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 1,518 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| ZEF Elkin, NC | 157 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,067 ft | ||||
| INT Winston Salem, NC | 186 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 969 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| DAN Danville, VA | 226 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 571 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| AVC South Hill, VA | 294 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 441 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 304 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| FKN Franklin, VA | 343 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, scattered clouds at 2,300 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ORF Norfolk, VA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 26 ft | 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 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 ORF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORF
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- 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 6,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
The forecast for TYS, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 TYS 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORF is before sunrise there (7:09 am EDT (11:09 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: MC Ghee Tyson Airport, Norfolk International.