Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport to Blue Grass Airport VPS → LEX
463 nautical miles (533 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 011°, about 014° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now VPS is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 5 knots; LEX is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 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: 57 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the first 118 nm of the route.
- 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 325 to 444 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 365 to 384 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 VPS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 42 nm east, 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 177 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- E170 at 33,000 ft, 21 nm east, 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 197 nm along the route, 21 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 45 nm west (280°) of ATL
- Time
- 01:53 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 46 nm west, 8:09 pm CDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the destination end, 46 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
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 (MGM, BHM, HSV, TYS, LOU). 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 19 kt | +11 kt | 109 kt | 4 h 15 min | 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 103 kt | 4 h 30 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 38 min | 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +22 kt | 9 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 43 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | +20 kt | 6 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 38 min | 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 2 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 35 min | 3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +17 kt | -2 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 30 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | +15 kt | -6 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 25 min | 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 26 kt | +15 kt | -7 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 25 min | 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 34 kt | +25 kt | -17 °C | 95 kt | 4 h 52 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 50 kt | +37 kt | -33 °C | 83 kt | 5 h 35 min | 4:15 am EDT (08:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 57 kt | +43 kt | -41 °C | 77 kt | 6 h 01 min | 4:41 am EDT (08:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 41 kt | +31 kt | -49 °C | 89 kt | 5 h 12 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGM | used from 0 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| BHM | used from 148 nm out; 48 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° |
| HSV | used from 246 nm out; 68 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° |
| TYS | used from 296 nm out; 61 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° |
| LOU | used from 394 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL | departure | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC) |
| CEW Crestview, FL | 20 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 213 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| TOI Troy, AL | 89 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| MGM Montgomery, AL | 108 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 221 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| ALX Alexander City, AL | 148 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the west-northwest (290°) at 1 knots | 10+ mi | none | 685 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| ANB Anniston, AL | 187 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 612 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| APT Jasper, TN | 276 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 641 ft | ||||
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 286 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| CSV Crossville, TN | 335 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 1,881 ft | 02:36 UTC |
| EKQ Monticello, KY | 394 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 962 ft | 02:13 UTC |
| DVK Danville, KY | 434 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 1,021 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 9:54 pm EDT (01:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,881 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for VPS, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
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 VPS 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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: Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport, Blue Grass Airport.