MC Ghee Tyson Airport to St. Simons Island Airport TYS → SSI
309 nautical miles (355 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 154°, about 160° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (9,500 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TYS is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots; SSI is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 5 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). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 70 nm of the route.
- 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 20 to 50 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 129 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
- B738 descending, 0 nm west, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Remarks
- multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
- A319 descending, 0 nm west, 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC): remarks: tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0252/FLDURD/TP A319/RM TOPS 068 BASES 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 02:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A319
- Remarks
- tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft
- B38M at 36,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 12:28 am EDT (04:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 259 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AMG UA /OV AMG/TM 0428/FL360/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through AMG
- Where
- over AMG
- Time
- 04:28 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
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 5 forecast points nearest it (TYS, GSP, CAE, SAV, JAX). 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 | 310° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 2 h 15 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 2 h 15 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 13 min | 3:25 am EDT (07:25 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 9 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | −21 kt | 6 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 27 kt | −21 kt | 2 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 29 kt | −21 kt | -1 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 31 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 32 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 34 kt | −21 kt | -18 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 35 kt | −14 kt | -33 °C | 134 kt | 2 h 18 min | 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 38 kt | −10 kt | -39 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 23 min | 3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 34 kt | −17 kt | -50 °C | 137 kt | 2 h 15 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS | used from 0 nm out; 25 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 50 nm out; 57 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 149 nm out; 82 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° |
| SAV | used from 199 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| JAX | used from 299 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS Knoxville, TN | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 986 ft | 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC) |
| RHP Andrews, NC | 40 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 1,698 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| TOC Toccoa, GA | 80 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 996 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 119 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| IIY Washington, GA | 139 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 646 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| SBO Swainsboro, GA | 209 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 327 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MHP Metter, GA | 229 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 197 ft | 04:50 UTC |
| LHW Fort Stewart (Hinesville), GA | 269 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| SSI St Simons Island, GA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 18 ft | 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,698 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SSI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SSI
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 SSI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:21 pm EDT (23:21 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SSI is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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, St. Simons Island Airport.