Plan a flight · Sun 7:58 pm EDT (23:58 UTC)

Columbia Metro Airport to Raleigh-Durham International CAE → RDU

163 nautical miles (188 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 044°, about 051° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 78-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:47 pm EDT (00:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CAE is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22. 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: 84 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 CAE.

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

C525 at 2,300 ft, 50 nm southwest, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): light turbulence, scattered clouds above 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 50 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGS UA /OV AGS090006/TM 2215/FL023/TP C525/SK SCT 023/TB LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGS
Where
6 nm east (090°) of AGS
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C525
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,300 ft
Turbulence
light turbulence
PA32 at 4,000 ft, 41 nm southeast, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): light chop turbulence. 87 nm along the route, 41 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FLO UA /OV DLC/TM 2211/FL040/TP PA32/SK BASES040/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FLO
Where
over DLC
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Sky
BASES040
Turbulence
light chop
E75L at 4,000 ft, 35 nm southeast, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 125 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAY UA /OV KFAY/TM 2245/FL040/TP E75L/SK BASES 045
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAY
Where
over KFAY
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
bases 4,500 ft
CRJ7 descending, 48 nm northwest, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 125 nm along the route, 48 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
B763 at 3,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 144 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 49 nm northwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 144 nm along the route, 49 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
CRJ7 at 3,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC): overcast from 6,700 ft to 5,200 ft. 144 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2115/FL030/TP CRJ7/SK 067OVC052
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
067OVC052

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (CAE, FLO, 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	250° at 25 kt	−23 kt		143 kt	1 h 08 min	9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC)
5,500 ft	270° at 22 kt	−15 kt		135 kt	1 h 12 min	9:10 pm EDT (01:10 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 25 kt	−20 kt	10 °C	140 kt	1 h 10 min	9:08 pm EDT (01:08 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 31 kt	−28 kt	10 °C	148 kt	1 h 06 min	9:04 pm EDT (01:04 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 36 kt	−33 kt	8 °C	153 kt	1 h 04 min	9:02 pm EDT (01:02 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 39 kt	−37 kt	4 °C	157 kt	1 h 02 min	9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 41 kt	−39 kt	1 °C	159 kt	1 h 02 min	9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 44 kt	−42 kt	-3 °C	162 kt	1 h	8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 44 kt	−43 kt	-4 °C	163 kt	1 h	8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 64 kt	−64 kt	-15 °C	184 kt	53 min	8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 78 kt	−78 kt	-30 °C	198 kt	49 min	8:47 pm EDT (00:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	210° at 81 kt	−80 kt	-40 °C	200 kt	49 min	8:47 pm EDT (00:47 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 74 kt	−74 kt	-52 °C	194 kt	50 min	8:48 pm EDT (00:48 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
CAE	used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line	260/27	310/26 11°	280/31 9°	270/36 7°	250/39 -4°	230/57 -16°	220/74 -30°	220/83 -40°	220/73 -51°
FLO	used from 48 nm out; 41 nm from the line	240/25	270/23 11°	250/36 10°	240/38 7°	240/50 -4°	230/66 -15°	220/75 -30°	210/77 -40°	220/73 -52°
RDU	used from 96 nm out; 43 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°

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
CAE Columbia, SC	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	2,900 ft	235 ft	7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC)
CDN Camden, SC	38 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	302 ft	23:35 UTC
PYG Pageland, SC	58 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	no report just now				574 ft
SOP Pinehurst/Southern Pines, NC	115 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	459 ft	22:56 UTC
TTA Sanford, NC	144 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	246 ft	23:35 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	4,800 ft	435 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 574 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, 8:47 pm EDT (00:47 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 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 CAE, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 96 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is after sunset there (6:45 pm EDT (22:45 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 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: Columbia Metro Airport, Raleigh-Durham International.