Waterloo Regional to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport ALO → DCA
733 nautical miles (843 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 103°, about 103° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:31 am EDT (10:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 99 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 last 495 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 545 to 683 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 99 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 ALO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 20,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 693 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 11:31 pm CDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 317 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 46 nm north, 12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 386 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 05:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B738 at 1,300 ft, 46 nm north, 11:45 pm CDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 386 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 04:45 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- MD83 climbing, 43 nm south, 12:04 am CDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 455 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
- B712 descending, 26 nm northeast, 10:10 pm CDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast 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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, JOT, FWA, CMH, AGC, EKN, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 5 h 23 min | 7:27 am EDT (11:27 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 12 °C | 138 kt | 5 h 19 min | 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 12 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 21 min | 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 8 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 28 min | 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 5 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 33 min | 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 1 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 28 min | 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −17 kt | -3 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 21 min | 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 14 min | 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 14 min | 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -20 °C | 146 kt | 5 h 01 min | 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 33 kt | −31 kt | -35 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 51 min | 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 44 kt | −43 kt | -42 °C | 163 kt | 4 h 30 min | 6:34 am EDT (10:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 47 kt | −45 kt | -49 °C | 165 kt | 4 h 27 min | 6:31 am EDT (10:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| JOT | used from 149 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| FWA | used from 248 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CMH | used from 396 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| AGC | used from 495 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| EKN | used from 594 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| RIC | used from 693 nm out; 89 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALO Waterloo, IA | departure | no report just now | 873 ft | ||||
| IIB Independence, IA | 20 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 979 ft | ||||
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 79 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,076 ft | ||||
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 178 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 712 ft | ||||
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 228 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 596 ft | ||||
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 337 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 814 ft | ||||
| MNN Marion, OH | 436 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | no report just now | 993 ft | ||||
| MFD Mansfield, OH | 455 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,297 ft | ||||
| HLG Wheeling, WV | 545 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,194 ft | ||||
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 594 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,243 ft | ||||
| IAD Washington, DC | 713 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 312 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,297 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:31 am EDT (10:31 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ALO 6:32 pm CDT (23:32 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA 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
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: Waterloo Regional, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.