Rafael Hernandez Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport BQN → DCA
1,327 nautical miles (1,527 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 339°, about 349° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:27 am EDT (12:27 UTC). Right now BQN is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 6 knots; DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 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 9E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 45,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 25 knots, until 12:55 am AST (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 968 to 1127 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120255 MKCE WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9E VALID UNTIL 0455Z NC CSTL WTRS FROM 50E ECG-200E ECG-220SE ILM-140SSE ILM-50E ECG AREA TS MOV FROM 24025KT. TOPS TO FL450. REF INTL SIGMET LIMA SERIES.
- SIGMET E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am AST (04:55 UTC). Over the last 100 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120255 MKCE WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E VALID UNTIL 0455Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 1008 to 1067 nm out.
- 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 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 40 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 BQN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 20,000 ft, 41 nm west, 11:11 pm AST (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. At the destination end, 41 nm west 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
- B712 descending, 26 nm northeast, 11:10 pm AST (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
- A320 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:46 pm AST (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the destination end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- CONLE5 sid
- B738 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:43 pm AST (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the destination end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm west (260°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:43 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
- Remarks
- TERPZ8 sid
- B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm AST (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- over DCA
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- overcast from 400 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 5 forecast points nearest it (MIA, MLB, ILM, ORF, 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 | 250° at 11 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 11 h 04 min | 10:40 am EDT (14:40 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | 0 | 13 °C | 120 kt | 11 h 04 min | 10:40 am EDT (14:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −2 kt | 12 °C | 122 kt | 10 h 53 min | 10:29 am EDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −3 kt | 10 °C | 123 kt | 10 h 47 min | 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | −4 kt | 6 °C | 124 kt | 10 h 42 min | 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −5 kt | 2 °C | 125 kt | 10 h 37 min | 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −5 kt | -2 °C | 125 kt | 10 h 37 min | 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 28 kt | −5 kt | -5 °C | 125 kt | 10 h 37 min | 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 35 kt | −7 kt | -17 °C | 127 kt | 10 h 27 min | 10:03 am EDT (14:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 42 kt | −19 kt | -31 °C | 139 kt | 9 h 33 min | 9:09 am EDT (13:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 210° at 49 kt | −30 kt | -40 °C | 150 kt | 8 h 51 min | 8:27 am EDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 48 kt | −23 kt | -51 °C | 143 kt | 9 h 17 min | 8:53 am EDT (12:53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIA | used from 0 nm out; 832 nm from the line | 150/7 | 140/5 17° | 160/5 14° | L/V 9° | 230/8 -5° | 230/8 -17° | 150/11 -32° | 150/25 -41° | 180/29 -51° |
| MLB | used from 599 nm out; 494 nm from the line | 230/6 | 230/12 17° | 240/13 12° | 240/14 7° | 240/20 -5° | 240/24 -16° | 210/21 -32° | 190/33 -41° | 200/36 -52° |
| ILM | used from 648 nm out; 453 nm from the line | 270/22 | 270/23 11° | 260/35 10° | 240/41 6° | 240/49 -5° | 240/61 -16° | 230/74 -30° | 220/79 -40° | 230/71 -51° |
| ORF | used from 1048 nm out; 132 nm from the line | 250/24 | 230/32 11° | 220/37 10° | 220/37 6° | 230/47 -5° | 230/62 -17° | 220/89 -30° | 220/93 -40° | 230/77 -51° |
| RIC | used from 1247 nm out; 49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BQN Aguadilla, PR | departure | VFR | from the east (100°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 237 ft | 10:50 pm AST (02:50 UTC) |
| FFA Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1147 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 11 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| ORF Norfolk, VA | 1207 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 26 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 500 ft | 14 ft | 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 237 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, 8:27 am EDT (12:27 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for DCA
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for BQN, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm AST (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am AST (13:00 UTC): wind from the east at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm AST (17:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet (thunderheads), scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 pm AST (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm AST (21:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 2,000 feet (thunderheads), a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm AST (23:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BQN 6:08 pm AST (22:08 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 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: Rafael Hernandez Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.