Plan a flight · Mon 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Lovell Field DCA → CHA

454 nautical miles (522 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 242°, about 253° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:40 am EDT (15:40 UTC). Right now DCA is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 10 knots; CHA is low IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 3 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: 578 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). Over the whole route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 148 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 20 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 286 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 138 to 444 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 217 to 247 nm out.

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 DCA.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

E170 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm north, 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC): a broken layer above 1,200 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 1132/FL010/TP E170/SK BKN012
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
over DCA
Time
11:32 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
a broken layer from 1,200 ft
B39M at 1,200 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC): remarks: base 1200FT tops 2000FT. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 1110/FL012/TP B39M/RM BASE 1200FT TOPS 2000FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
11:10 UTC
Height
at 1,200 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Remarks
base 1200FT tops 2000FT
B737 at 700 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
09:33 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
light rain
B39M descending, 15 nm northwest, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 1042/FLDURD/TP B39M/SK OVC 040/WX 10 SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
runway 1R
Time
10:42 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B39M
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Weather
10, miles
UAL1428 at 32,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC): no turbulence, -39 °C, wind 360° at 59 knots. 20 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1428 3923N 07750W 1136 F320 MS39 360/059KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E75L descending, 11 nm south, 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC): a broken layer above 3,700 ft. 168 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 1109/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK BKN037 050
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
BKN037 at 5,000 ft
A321 at 30,000 ft, 49 nm southeast, 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 43. 266 nm along the route, 49 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM330010/TM 1155/FL300/TP A321/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 43
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of BZM
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 43
CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 6:10 am EDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 296 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
booie
Time
10:10 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
E75L at 5,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 8:03 am EDT (12:03 UTC): overcast up to 1,100 ft. 385 nm along the route, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV TYS230005/TM 1203/FL050/TP E75L/SK OVC-TOP011
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
5 nm southwest (230°) of TYS
Time
12:03 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
overcast, tops 1,100 ft
B739 at 36,000 ft, 36 nm northwest, 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. At the destination end, 36 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV HCH250025/TM 1134/FL360/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm west (250°) of HCH
Time
11:34 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 36
B38M at 35,000 ft, 26 nm southeast, 6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 39. At the destination end, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GQO110025/TM 1004/FL350/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 39
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm east (110°) of GQO
Time
10:04 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 39
C56X at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1104/FL010/TP C56X/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
11:04 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1015/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
10:15 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure

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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, TYS). 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	340° at 27 kt	−3 kt	11 °C	123 kt	3 h 41 min	11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC)
6,500 ft	340° at 30 kt	−7 kt	12 °C	127 kt	3 h 34 min	11:43 am EDT (15:43 UTC)
8,500 ft	350° at 32 kt	−9 kt	10 °C	129 kt	3 h 31 min	11:40 am EDT (15:40 UTC)
10,500 ft	340° at 31 kt	−8 kt	7 °C	128 kt	3 h 33 min	11:42 am EDT (15:42 UTC)
12,500 ft	340° at 29 kt	−5 kt	3 °C	125 kt	3 h 38 min	11:47 am EDT (15:47 UTC)
14,500 ft	340° at 31 kt	−4 kt	-1 °C	124 kt	3 h 40 min	11:49 am EDT (15:49 UTC)
16,500 ft	330° at 34 kt	−2 kt	-5 °C	122 kt	3 h 43 min	11:52 am EDT (15:52 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 35 kt	−1 kt	-8 °C	121 kt	3 h 45 min	11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	340° at 42 kt	−5 kt	-20 °C	125 kt	3 h 38 min	11:47 am EDT (15:47 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	340° at 48 kt	−5 kt	-33 °C	125 kt	3 h 38 min	11:47 am EDT (15:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 51 kt	−2 kt	-40 °C	122 kt	3 h 43 min	11:52 am EDT (15:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 39 kt	+12 kt	-49 °C	108 kt	4 h 12 min	12:21 pm EDT (16:21 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
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 70 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°
ROA	used from 99 nm out; 45 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
TRI	used from 247 nm out; 21 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
TYS	used from 345 nm out; 12 nm from the line	330/16	350/32 14°	350/37 9°	340/30 5°	330/28 -6°	340/36 -19°	330/40 -33°	330/51 -41°	330/36 -51°

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
DCA Washington, DC	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the north (350°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	14 ft	7:52 am EDT (11:52 UTC)
HEF Washington, DC	20 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,600 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	3,600 ft	192 ft	11:56 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	79 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	640 ft	11:53 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	168 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	3,400 ft	1,175 ft	11:54 UTC
PSK Dublin, VA	197 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the west (280°) at 11 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	none	2,104 ft	11:55 UTC
MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA	237 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the west (280°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	900 ft	2,558 ft	11:55 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	296 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,900 ft	1,518 ft	11:53 UTC
GKT Sevierville, TN	355 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,300 ft	1,013 ft	11:56 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	375 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Weather: fog	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	none	986 ft	11:53 UTC
MMI Athens, TN	414 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	874 ft	11:55 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	destination	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	0.13 mi	200 ft	682 ft	7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,558 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CHA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:40 am EDT (15:40 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CHA

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet

The forecast for DCA, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
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, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 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 on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Lovell Field.