Plan a flight · Sun 9:35 pm EDT (01:35 UTC)

Charlotte/Douglas International to Rapid City Regional CLT → RAP

1,147 nautical miles (1,319 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 311° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 5:55 am MDT (11:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots; RAP is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 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: 254 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft, from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 20 to 110 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 60 to 199 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), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 150 to 249 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Near the route, 1077 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 0 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

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 80 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
A321 at 30,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 150 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. At the departure end, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
S22T descending, 26 nm northeast, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 100 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent RY23 tri
CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 110 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
40 nm east (090°) of VXV
Time
22:46 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-42
B712 at 600 ft, 46 nm northeast, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 239 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
CRJ9 descending, 46 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 239 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
A319 at 25,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 269 nm along the route, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
B38M at 23,700 ft, 28 nm northeast, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 379 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light

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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TRI, TYS, LOU, EVV, SPI, BRL, DSM, OMA, ONL, PIR, RAP). 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	260° at 11 kt	+9 kt	15 °C	111 kt	10 h 20 min	5:55 am MDT (11:55 UTC)
6,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	+13 kt	14 °C	107 kt	10 h 43 min	6:18 am MDT (12:18 UTC)
8,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	+16 kt	11 °C	104 kt	11 h 02 min	6:37 am MDT (12:37 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	+18 kt	7 °C	102 kt	11 h 15 min	6:50 am MDT (12:50 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	+19 kt	4 °C	101 kt	11 h 21 min	6:56 am MDT (12:56 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	+20 kt	-1 °C	100 kt	11 h 28 min	7:03 am MDT (13:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+21 kt	-5 °C	99 kt	11 h 35 min	7:10 am MDT (13:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 22 kt	+22 kt	-8 °C	98 kt	11 h 42 min	7:17 am MDT (13:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-20 °C	95 kt	12 h 04 min	7:39 am MDT (13:39 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 33 kt	+33 kt	-34 °C	87 kt	13 h 11 min	8:46 am MDT (14:46 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 39 kt	+37 kt	-41 °C	83 kt	13 h 49 min	9:24 am MDT (15:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 43 kt	+42 kt	-50 °C	78 kt	14 h 42 min	10:17 am MDT (16:17 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
GSP	used from 0 nm out; 53 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
TRI	used from 50 nm out; 35 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
TYS	used from 150 nm out; 60 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
LOU	used from 199 nm out; 71 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
EVV	used from 299 nm out; 43 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
SPI	used from 449 nm out; 32 nm from the line	210/13	260/11 17°	270/18 10°	290/21 4°	310/20 -8°	330/25 -19°	320/49 -34°	320/60 -44°	320/59 -50°
BRL	used from 548 nm out; 39 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 648 nm out; 42 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 748 nm out; 37 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
ONL	used from 847 nm out; 64 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
PIR	used from 997 nm out; 65 nm from the line		L/V 17°	230/13 12°	220/22 6°	250/31 -9°	250/34 -21°	240/50 -35°	230/61 -43°	240/62 -51°
RAP	used from 1097 nm out; 25 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°

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 3,700 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	747 ft	8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC)
HKY Hickory, NC	40 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	00:53 UTC
SME Somerset, KY	209 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation	from the west (270°) at 5 knots, gusting to 10	3 mi	600 ft	927 ft	01:15 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	289 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	00:56 UTC
AJG Mount Carmel, IL	379 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: sky obscured at 700 feet Weather: haze	calm	1.5 mi	700 ft	429 ft	01:15 UTC
SPI Springfield, IL	498 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	597 ft	00:52 UTC
CNC Chariton, IA	678 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,050 ft	01:15 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	708 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	00:54 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	837 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	00:52 UTC
ICR Winner, SD	1007 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	2,032 ft	00:53 UTC
SUO Rosebud, SD	1037 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	400 ft	2,724 ft	01:15 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	3,203 ft	6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:55 am MDT (11:55 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet IFR

The whole forecast for RAP

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

The forecast for CLT, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is before sunrise there (7:02 am MDT (13:02 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Rapid City Regional.