Plan a flight · Mon 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC)

Charleston Afb/Intl Airport to Lancaster Airport CHS → LNS

470 nautical miles (541 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 022°, about 029° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:48 am EDT (14:48 UTC). Right now CHS is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 knots; LNS is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 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

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 route from 240 to 360 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 120 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 380 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 10 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 CHS.

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

E75L at 30,000 ft, 19 nm west, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. 210 nm along the route, 19 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDU
Where
20 nm north (360°) of RDU
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at F300
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
E75S at 15,000 ft, 20 nm southeast, 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: dca arrival from 12,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. 440 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL060030/TM 1035/FL150/TP E75S/TB MOD/RM DCA ARRIVAL 120-150 DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
30 nm northeast (060°) of BAL
Time
10:35 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
dca arrival from 12,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
B39M descending, 22 nm northwest, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. 380 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 1042/FLDURD/TP B39M/SK OVC 040/WX 10 SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
runway 1R
Time
10:42 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B39M
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Weather
10, miles
B737 at 700 ft, 7 nm east, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. 410 nm along the route, 7 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
09:33 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
light rain
B738 climbing, 40 nm southeast, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 01 ilg bases 700 ft. At the destination end, 40 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILG UA /OV KILG/TM 1033/FLDURC/TP B738/RM DURC RY01 ILG BASES 007
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILG
Where
over KILG
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
during the climb runway 01 ilg bases 700 ft
B739 at 20,000 ft, 40 nm southeast, 6:05 am EDT (10:05 UTC): light rime icing, -10 °C. At the destination end, 40 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILG UA /OV DQO/TM 1005/FL200/TP B739/TA M10/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILG
Where
over DQO
Time
10:05 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Temperature
−10 °C
Icing
light rime

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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (CHS, FLO, RDU, RIC, ACY, AVP). 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	340° at 23 kt	+17 kt		103 kt	4 h 34 min	11:35 am EDT (15:35 UTC)
5,500 ft	340° at 21 kt	+15 kt		105 kt	4 h 29 min	11:30 am EDT (15:30 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	+16 kt	10 °C	104 kt	4 h 31 min	11:32 am EDT (15:32 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	+16 kt	7 °C	104 kt	4 h 31 min	11:32 am EDT (15:32 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	+14 kt	4 °C	106 kt	4 h 26 min	11:27 am EDT (15:27 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 28 kt	+13 kt	0 °C	107 kt	4 h 24 min	11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	+12 kt	-3 °C	108 kt	4 h 21 min	11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 31 kt	+12 kt	-7 °C	108 kt	4 h 21 min	11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 31 kt	+12 kt	-8 °C	108 kt	4 h 21 min	11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 29 kt	+6 kt	-20 °C	114 kt	4 h 07 min	11:08 am EDT (15:08 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 33 kt	−4 kt	-33 °C	124 kt	3 h 47 min	10:48 am EDT (14:48 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 31 kt	−2 kt	-39 °C	122 kt	3 h 51 min	10:52 am EDT (14:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 36 kt	+1 kt	-48 °C	119 kt	3 h 57 min	10:58 am EDT (14:58 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
CHS	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	330/14	300/17 14°	320/21 9°	310/26 6°	310/32 -6°	280/34 -19°	260/37 -32°	280/30 -39°	310/30 -50°
FLO	used from 50 nm out; 14 nm from the line	330/17	330/17 12°	320/21 9°	310/29 4°	310/36 -8°	300/36 -19°	290/34 -32°	300/29 -40°	310/34 -48°
RDU	used from 150 nm out; 17 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -47°
RIC	used from 250 nm out; 37 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°
ACY	used from 400 nm out; 98 nm from the line	350/12	340/12 11°	340/12 6°	340/13 2°	270/10 -10°	240/17 -23°	230/46 -33°	230/46 -40°	240/46 -49°
AVP	used from 450 nm out; 87 nm from the line	010/20	020/24 11°	360/19 8°	350/23 2°	320/24 -11°	330/25 -22°	330/27 -37°	310/28 -42°	290/30 -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
CHS Charleston, SC	departure	VFR	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC)
MKS Moncks Corner, SC	20 nm out, 7 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	74 ft	10:55 UTC
FLO Florence, SC	80 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	146 ft	10:53 UTC
FAY Fayetteville, NC	140 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	189 ft	10:53 UTC
HRJ Erwin, NC	160 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	VFR	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	201 ft	10:55 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	190 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	10:51 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	270 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	310 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	3,900 ft	167 ft	10:54 UTC
HEF Washington, DC	370 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	4,400 ft	192 ft	10:56 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	390 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	14 ft	10:52 UTC
DMW Westminster, MD	430 nm out, 18 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	789 ft	10:35 UTC
LNS Lancaster, PA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	402 ft	6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 789 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LNS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:48 am EDT (14:48 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for LNS

From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,100 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

The forecast for CHS, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 6 nm from the route, 120 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 380 nm along the route · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 390 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 420 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC), at LNS 6:30 pm EDT (22:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 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 now, the Northeast · 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: Charleston Afb/Intl Airport, Lancaster Airport.