John Glenn Columbus International to Richmond International CMH → RIC
301 nautical miles (346 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 118°, about 125° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:29 am EDT (11:29 UTC). Right now CMH is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots; RIC is IFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 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: 7 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 E31E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, until 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC). Over the last 0 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120855 MKCE WST 120855 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 31E VALID UNTIL 1055Z MD VA DC FROM 20NNE DCA-30WSW SBY-RIC-CSN-20NNE DCA AREA TS MOV LTL. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 78 to 194 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 136 to 262 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. 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 CMH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 39,000 ft, 15 nm north, 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV APE/TM 0840/FL390/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP 390 NEG 350-330
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over APE
- Time
- 08:40 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 39,000 ft no from 35,000 ft to 33,000 ft
- B738 at 33,000 ft, 18 nm south, 4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC): -39 °C, wind 350° at 65 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 155 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
EKN UA /OV EKN188027 /TM 0844 /FL330 /TP B738 /TA M39 /WV 35065KT /TB MOD-CONS /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through EKN
- Where
- 27 nm south (188°) of EKN
- Time
- 08:44 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −39 °C
- Wind
- from 350° at 65 knots
- Turbulence
- mod-cons
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
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 4 forecast points nearest it (CMH, CRW, EKN, 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 | 340° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 2 h 12 min | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 10 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 11 min | 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −20 kt | 9 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 09 min | 7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | −22 kt | 7 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 07 min | 7:49 am EDT (11:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −24 kt | 4 °C | 144 kt | 2 h 05 min | 7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 33 kt | −27 kt | 0 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 03 min | 7:45 am EDT (11:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 35 kt | −29 kt | -4 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 01 min | 7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 38 kt | −32 kt | -7 °C | 152 kt | 1 h 59 min | 7:41 am EDT (11:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 38 kt | −33 kt | -8 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 58 min | 7:40 am EDT (11:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 43 kt | −33 kt | -21 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 58 min | 7:40 am EDT (11:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 51 kt | −39 kt | -35 °C | 159 kt | 1 h 54 min | 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 58 kt | −49 kt | -41 °C | 169 kt | 1 h 47 min | 7:29 am EDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 42 kt | −40 kt | -49 °C | 160 kt | 1 h 53 min | 7:35 am EDT (11:35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
| CRW | used from 48 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| EKN | used from 97 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 242 nm out; 34 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH Columbus, OH | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 1,300 ft | 815 ft | 4:51 am EDT (08:51 UTC) |
| LHQ Lancaster, OH | 19 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | 700 ft | 868 ft | 09:19 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 78 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | calm | 3 mi | 400 ft | 858 ft | 09:28 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 126 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 700 ft | 1,223 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 155 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 1,100 ft | 1,987 ft | 09:16 UTC |
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | 213 nm out, 0 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,201 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 233 nm out, 5 nm northeast 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 |
| LKU Louisa, VA | 262 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 493 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 700 ft | 167 ft | 4:54 am EDT (08:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:29 am EDT (11:29 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for RIC
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CMH, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered 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 CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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
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: John Glenn Columbus International, Richmond International.