University Of Illinois/Willard Airport to Raleigh-Durham International CMI → RDU
514 nautical miles (591 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 116°, about 119° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CMI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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: 2 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 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 route from 128 to 405 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 277 to 425 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 138 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, 435 nm along 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 CMI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B752 climbing, 19 nm northeast, 2:37 am CDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 168 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 07:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- B001 overcast T015
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 6 forecast points nearest it (IND, CVG, CRW, TRI, ROA, 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 | 310° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 140 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 11 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 39 min | 7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −21 kt | 11 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 39 min | 7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −21 kt | 8 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 39 min | 7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 4 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 42 min | 7:45 am EDT (11:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −20 kt | 0 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -3 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 36 min | 7:39 am EDT (11:39 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -6 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 31 min | 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 28 kt | −27 kt | -7 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 30 min | 7:33 am EDT (11:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 32 kt | −30 kt | -20 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 26 min | 7:29 am EDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | −35 kt | -34 °C | 155 kt | 3 h 19 min | 7:22 am EDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 47 kt | −46 kt | -40 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 06 min | 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 42 kt | −41 kt | -49 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 12 min | 7:15 am EDT (11:15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | used from 0 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| CVG | used from 148 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 247 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 346 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| ROA | used from 395 nm out; 44 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° |
| RDU | used from 444 nm out; 44 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| PRG Paris, IL | 30 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 654 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 59 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BAK Columbus, IN | 119 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 01:45 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 178 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 896 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 247 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| SJS Prestonsburg, KY | 296 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,221 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| EBD Williamson, WV | 316 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,883 ft | ||||
| HLX Galax Hillsville, VA | 405 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 2,693 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 454 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 925 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| BUY Burlington, NC | 484 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 616 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,693 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, 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for CMI, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 21,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, 178 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at CMI 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 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 before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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: University Of Illinois/Willard Airport, Raleigh-Durham International.