Plan a flight · Mon 1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC)

Albany International to Richmond International ALB → RIC

354 nautical miles (407 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 208°, about 221° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ALB is IFR, wind from the north (360°) at 5 knots; RIC is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) 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: 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

SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 147 to 344 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120455
MKCE WST 120455
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
VALID UNTIL 0655Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.

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 whole route.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the whole route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 79 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 ALB.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

GA6C descending, 20 nm east, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 79 nm along the route, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through SWF
Where
5 nm west (270°) of SWF
Time
04:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
GA6C
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
Remarks
bases OVC010
PC12 at 1,000 ft, 21 nm west, 10:28 pm EDT (02:28 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. 167 nm along the route, 21 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDG UA /OV 2 SOUTH RDG/TM 0228/FL010/TP PC12/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDG
Where
2 south rdg
Time
02:28 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
E145 at 600 ft, 48 nm northwest, 11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC): overcast above 600 ft. 197 nm along the route, 48 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MDT UA /OV MDT/TM 0320/FL006/TP E145/SK OVC 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through MDT
Where
over MDT
Time
03:20 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 600 ft
B712 descending, 17 nm west, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. 246 nm along the route, 17 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
runway 15R
Time
03:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B712
Remarks
light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft 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 4 forecast points nearest it (ALB, AVP, ACY, RIC). 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	260° at 10 kt	+7 kt		113 kt	3 h 08 min	4:22 am EDT (08:22 UTC)
6,500 ft	270° at 12 kt	+6 kt	11 °C	114 kt	3 h 06 min	4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+13 kt	9 °C	107 kt	3 h 19 min	4:33 am EDT (08:33 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	+17 kt	6 °C	103 kt	3 h 26 min	4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+20 kt	3 °C	100 kt	3 h 32 min	4:46 am EDT (08:46 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+23 kt	-1 °C	97 kt	3 h 39 min	4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+26 kt	-6 °C	94 kt	3 h 46 min	5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 32 kt	+28 kt	-9 °C	92 kt	3 h 51 min	5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 44 kt	+39 kt	-20 °C	81 kt	4 h 22 min	5:36 am EDT (09:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 70 kt	+66 kt	-32 °C	54 kt	6 h 33 min	7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 81 kt	+74 kt	-40 °C	46 kt	7 h 42 min	8:56 am EDT (12:56 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 66 kt	+59 kt	-50 °C	61 kt	5 h 48 min	7:02 am EDT (11:02 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
ALB	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	120/9	270/8 10°	L/V 5°	260/9 1°	260/34 -10°	250/42 -22°	240/57 -35°	240/70 -42°	240/65 -50°
AVP	used from 49 nm out; 55 nm from the line	150/5	350/13 12°	270/20 8°	260/17 4°	260/25 -11°	240/31 -22°	240/54 -35°	230/61 -41°	240/55 -49°
ACY	used from 147 nm out; 65 nm from the line	220/19	220/18 14°	210/36 9°	210/35 5°	220/36 -8°	240/49 -21°	220/90 -31°	230/103 -40°	230/81 -50°
RIC	used from 246 nm out; 84 nm from the line	270/23	280/19 11°	270/18 8°	240/22 4°	230/39 -7°	220/55 -18°	220/75 -30°	230/83 -39°	230/64 -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
ALB Albany, NY	departure	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the north (360°) at 5 knots	6 mi	600 ft	284 ft	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
SWF New York, NY	69 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots	6 mi	1,200 ft	490 ft	04:45 UTC
FWN Sussex, NJ	98 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	421 ft	04:53 UTC
ABE Allentown, PA	147 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	393 ft	04:51 UTC
ILG Wilmington, DE	197 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19	9 mi	700 ft	79 ft	04:51 UTC
MTN Baltimore, MD	236 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms	calm	7 mi	700 ft	22 ft	04:55 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	275 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the north (350°) at 7 knots	7 mi	900 ft	14 ft	04:58 UTC
XSA Tappahannock, VA	324 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	calm		900 ft	135 ft	05:15 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the west (270°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,500 ft	167 ft	1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 490 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC)

Wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR

The whole forecast for RIC

From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet

The forecast for ALB, the departure

From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
At times between Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 1½ miles, light drizzle, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 246 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 11 nm from the route, 275 nm along the route · security · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIC is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Albany International, Richmond International.