MC Ghee Tyson Airport to Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport TYS → TCL
237 nautical miles (273 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 230°, about 236° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TYS is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots; TCL is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 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: 7 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 128 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 69 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 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
- 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
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (TYS, HSV, BHM). 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 19 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 1 h 57 min | 12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 14 °C | 125 kt | 1 h 54 min | 12:32 am CDT (05:32 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 27 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 1 h 54 min | 12:32 am CDT (05:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −7 kt | 7 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 52 min | 12:30 am CDT (05:30 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 28 kt | −9 kt | 4 °C | 129 kt | 1 h 50 min | 12:28 am CDT (05:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −6 kt | 0 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 53 min | 12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −4 kt | -4 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 55 min | 12:33 am CDT (05:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 28 kt | −2 kt | -7 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 57 min | 12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 34 kt | −7 kt | -18 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 52 min | 12:30 am CDT (05:30 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 50 kt | −8 kt | -33 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 51 min | 12:29 am CDT (05:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 56 kt | −11 kt | -40 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 49 min | 12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 42 kt | −9 kt | -49 °C | 129 kt | 1 h 50 min | 12:28 am CDT (05:28 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° |
| HSV | used from 99 nm out; 44 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° |
| BHM | used from 148 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS Knoxville, TN | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 986 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC) |
| MMI Athens, TN | 40 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 874 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 79 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 188 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| EKY Bessemer, AL | 207 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the northeast (050°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 4 mi | 6,000 ft | 699 ft | 03:56 UTC |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | destination | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 169 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 986 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TCL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TCL
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-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 TCL 6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TCL is before sunrise there (6:52 am CDT (11:52 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, Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport.