Columbus Airport to Richmond International CSG → RIC
479 nautical miles (552 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 049°, about 051° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CSG is VFR, wind calm; RIC is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 270 to 340 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). Near the route, 409 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 CSG.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 38 nm northwest, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 30 nm along the route, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-22
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 5 forecast points nearest it (CSG, ATL, GSP, RDU, 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 24 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 3 h 46 min | 3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −1 kt | 121 kt | 3 h 58 min | 3:21 am EDT (07:21 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | 0 | 11 °C | 120 kt | 4 h | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −1 kt | 8 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 58 min | 3:21 am EDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | −5 kt | 6 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 50 min | 3:13 am EDT (07:13 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | −10 kt | 2 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 41 min | 3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 27 kt | −14 kt | -2 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 34 min | 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 30 kt | −18 kt | -6 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 28 min | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 31 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 25 min | 2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 35 kt | −28 kt | -18 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 14 min | 2:37 am EDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 35 kt | −26 kt | -32 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 17 min | 2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 38 kt | −29 kt | -39 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 13 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 33 kt | −22 kt | -49 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 22 min | 2:45 am EDT (06:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSG | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| ATL | used from 50 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| GSP | used from 150 nm out; 31 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 300 nm out; 53 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° |
| RIC | used from 399 nm out; 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSG Columbus, GA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC) |
| OPN Thomaston, GA | 40 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | none | 797 ft | 03:15 UTC | |
| CVC Atlanta, GA | 90 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 819 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 120 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| GYH Greenville, SC | 180 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 955 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| GSP Greer, SC | 200 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 963 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| JQF Concord, NC | 270 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 704 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 330 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 925 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| BUY Burlington, NC | 340 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 616 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| CXE Chase City, VA | 409 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 503 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 439 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 167 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 963 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, 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for RIC
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 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 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
The forecast for CSG, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 CSG 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIC is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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: Columbus Airport, Richmond International.