MC Ghee Tyson Airport to Tampa International TYS → TPA
476 nautical miles (548 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 171°, about 177° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (9,500 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TYS is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots; TPA is VFR, wind from the north (350°) 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: 18 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 10 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
- 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
- B738 at 36,000 ft, 27 nm east, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 407 nm along the route, 27 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
OCF UA /OV OCF/TM 0023/FL360/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through OCF
- Where
- over OCF
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- 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 6 forecast points nearest it (TYS, ATL, CSG, TLH, JAX, PIE). 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 | 320° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 3 h 28 min | 2:39 am EDT (06:39 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:34 am EDT (06:34 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −23 kt | 15 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 20 min | 2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −24 kt | 11 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 18 min | 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −20 kt | 8 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 24 min | 2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 27 min | 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 24 kt | −15 kt | -1 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 32 min | 2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 25 kt | −13 kt | -5 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 35 min | 2:46 am EDT (06:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 25 kt | −13 kt | -6 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 35 min | 2:46 am EDT (06:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 29 kt | −12 kt | -18 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 36 min | 2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 34 kt | −23 kt | -32 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 20 min | 2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 27 kt | −16 kt | -40 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 30 min | 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 24 kt | −8 kt | -50 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 43 min | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 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° |
| ATL | used from 50 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| CSG | used from 198 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| TLH | used from 248 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
| JAX | used from 298 nm out; 67 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° |
| PIE | used from 397 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -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: 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) |
| RHP Andrews, NC | 40 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 1,698 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| GVL Gainesville, GA | 89 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,276 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 119 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 189 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| EZM Eastman, GA | 218 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 303 ft | 03:35 UTC |
| FZG Fitzgerald, GA | 248 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 364 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 308 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 203 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LCQ Lake City, FL | 347 nm out, 18 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 200 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| CGC Crystal River, FL | 427 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 8 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 447 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 76 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| TPA Tampa, FL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 26 ft | 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 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 TPA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC)
Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TPA
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 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
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 198 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at TYS 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at TPA 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TPA is before sunrise there (7:28 am EDT (11:28 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, Tampa International.