Charlotte/Douglas International to Washington Dulles International CLT → IAD
280 nautical miles (322 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 036°, about 043° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots; IAD is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 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: 5,412 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 110 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 170 nm of 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, 70 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 120 nm along the route.
- 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 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 130 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 CLT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 20,000 ft, 19 nm northwest, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. At the destination end, 19 nm northwest 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, 39 nm east, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the destination end, 39 nm east 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
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 4 forecast points nearest it (GSP, RDU, ROA, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | −4 kt | 124 kt | 2 h 15 min | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 2 h 22 min | 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | +3 kt | 10 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 24 min | 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +2 kt | 7 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 22 min | 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | −2 kt | 5 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 18 min | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −6 kt | 1 °C | 126 kt | 2 h 13 min | 3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 25 kt | −11 kt | -2 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 08 min | 3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 29 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 04 min | 3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 30 kt | −16 kt | -7 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 04 min | 3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 34 kt | −26 kt | -19 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 55 min | 3:31 am EDT (07:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 43 kt | −38 kt | -31 °C | 158 kt | 1 h 46 min | 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 51 kt | −44 kt | -39 °C | 164 kt | 1 h 42 min | 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 40 kt | −31 kt | -49 °C | 151 kt | 1 h 51 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP | used from 0 nm out; 86 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 50 nm out; 65 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° |
| ROA | used from 100 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| RIC | used from 200 nm out; 59 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte, NC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC) |
| JQF Concord, NC | 20 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 704 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| INT Winston Salem, NC | 70 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 969 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| MTV Martinsville, VA | 100 nm out, 14 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,600 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 948 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 150 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 210 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 640 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CJR Culpeper, VA | 250 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,100 feet Weather: rain | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 3,100 ft | 315 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| IAD Washington, DC | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 312 ft | 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 969 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for IAD
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAD is before sunrise there (7:16 am EDT (11:16 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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Washington Dulles International.