Austin-Bergstrom International to Raleigh-Durham International AUS → RDU
1,008 nautical miles (1,160 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 065°, about 061° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:28 am EDT (12:28 UTC). Right now AUS is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20. 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: 2,430 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 route from 649 to 649 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 738 to 978 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 758 to 778 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 788 to 858 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 AUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 (CLL, SHV, JAN, BHM, ATL, GSP, RDU). 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 12 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 7 h 42 min | 9:01 am EDT (13:01 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 7 h 45 min | 9:04 am EDT (13:04 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | −11 kt | 14 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 42 min | 9:01 am EDT (13:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | −12 kt | 10 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 38 min | 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | −10 kt | 7 °C | 130 kt | 7 h 45 min | 9:04 am EDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 38 min | 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −14 kt | -1 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 31 min | 8:50 am EDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −17 kt | -4 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 21 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 21 kt | −17 kt | -5 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 21 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 24 kt | −19 kt | -16 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 15 min | 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | −21 kt | -31 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:28 am EDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 34 kt | −21 kt | -40 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:28 am EDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 34 kt | −16 kt | -50 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 25 min | 8:44 am EDT (12:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLL | used from 0 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
| SHV | used from 150 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| JAN | used from 299 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| BHM | used from 499 nm out; 71 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° |
| ATL | used from 649 nm out; 60 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° |
| GSP | used from 748 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| RDU | used from 898 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS Austin, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 541 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| CLL College Station, TX | 70 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 320 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LFK Lufkin, TX | 160 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 295 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| IER Natchitoches, LA | 249 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 121 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MLU Monroe, LA | 319 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 499 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | 589 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| RMG Rome, GA | 678 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | reported, no category | calm | 100 ft | 644 ft | 05:06 UTC | |
| JZP Jasper, GA | 718 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,535 ft | ||||
| CLT Charlotte, NC | 898 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| JQF Concord, NC | 908 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 704 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,535 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:28 am EDT (12:28 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for AUS, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 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 AUS 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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: Austin-Bergstrom International, Raleigh-Durham International.