Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall to Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport BWI → VPS
712 nautical miles (819 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 226°, about 237° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC). Right now BWI is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16; VPS is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 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: 481 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, fog). Over the first 188 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 316 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 237 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 336 nm along 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 BWI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 800 ft, 0 nm south, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- E145 at 800 ft, 50 nm southeast, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 89 nm along the route, 50 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, GSP, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB). 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 | 340° at 27 kt | −12 kt | 11 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 24 min | 9:27 am CDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | −14 kt | 13 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 19 min | 9:22 am CDT (14:22 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 350° at 29 kt | −16 kt | 10 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 14 min | 9:17 am CDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 28 kt | −13 kt | 7 °C | 133 kt | 5 h 21 min | 9:24 am CDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −10 kt | 4 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 29 min | 9:32 am CDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −10 kt | 0 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 29 min | 9:32 am CDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | −10 kt | -4 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 29 min | 9:32 am CDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 32 kt | −10 kt | -7 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 29 min | 9:32 am CDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 37 kt | −17 kt | -19 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 12 min | 9:15 am CDT (14:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 47 kt | −16 kt | -32 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 14 min | 9:17 am CDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 340° at 46 kt | −18 kt | -40 °C | 138 kt | 5 h 10 min | 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 32 kt | −1 kt | -50 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 53 min | 9:56 am CDT (14:56 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| ROA | used from 148 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| TRI | used from 247 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| GSP | used from 297 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| ATL | used from 445 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| CSG | used from 544 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 330/27 | 340/28 16° | 350/28 11° | 330/17 6° | 340/25 -6° | 350/33 -18° | 330/46 -32° | 340/45 -41° | 350/31 -52° |
| MGM | used from 643 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 320/19 | 330/16 17° | 340/21 11° | 330/11 5° | 330/27 -6° | 330/21 -17° | 330/37 -32° | 340/44 -40° | 360/30 -52° |
| MOB | used from 692 nm out; 95 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | 020/8 11° | L/V 6° | 330/12 -5° | 330/23 -17° | 330/30 -32° | 350/39 -41° | 340/40 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BWI Baltimore, MD | departure | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 1.75 mi | 1,100 ft | 143 ft | 4:56 am EDT (08:56 UTC) |
| DCA Washington, DC | 30 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots | 3 mi | 1,200 ft | 14 ft | 08:58 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 99 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 640 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 158 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| INT Winston Salem, NC | 247 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 969 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 307 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GSP Greer, SC | 366 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 963 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 445 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| CSG Columbus, GA | 564 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| DHN Dothan, AL | 633 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 400 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| EDN Enterprise, AL | 653 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 360 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL | destination | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,189 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At VPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
The whole forecast for VPS
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, clear skies
The forecast for BWI, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, gusting to 16, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 30 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at VPS 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport.