Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to John Glenn Columbus International DCA → CMH
280 nautical miles (322 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 12:25 am EDT (04:25 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is low IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; CMH is IFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 6 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: 4,001 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the first 251 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120155 MKCE WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E VALID UNTIL 0355Z PA MD VA DC WV OH FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.
- 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 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 135 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 48 to 193 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 22,500 ft, 3 nm east, 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft, remarks: during the descent FRDMM7 star. 77 nm along the route, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
OKV UA /OV ESL100020/TM 2344/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS MOD CAT 180-225/RM DURD FRDMM7 STAR
- Report
- a routine report filed through OKV
- Where
- 20 nm east (100°) of ESL
- Time
- 23:44 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent FRDMM7 star
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 37 nm north, 7:49 pm EDT (23:49 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: zob. 126 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
2G9 UA /OV IHD/TM 2349/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD 300/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through 2G9
- Where
- over IHD
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 10 nm south, 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 135 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 18 nm north, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 155 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through MPG
- Where
- 30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
- Time
- 00:55 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- A320 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- CONLE5 sid
- B738 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm west (260°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:43 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
- Remarks
- TERPZ8 sid
- B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- over DCA
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- A320 descending, 0 nm north, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 0027/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BASES 400 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 final
- Time
- 00:27 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- bases 40,000 ft ft
- A21N at 600 ft, 26 nm northeast, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0023/FL006/TP A21N/SK BKN006
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- a broken layer from 600 ft
- A319 descending, 0 nm north, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 DEPARTURE/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP A319/SK BASES 500 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 departure
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- bases 50,000 ft ft
- B763 at 500 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:50 pm EDT (23:50 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2350/FL005/TP B763/SK BKN005
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 23:50 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 500 ft
- C17 at 500 ft, 8 nm east, 7:42 pm EDT (23:42 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV RWY 1L ARR/TM 2342/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- runway 1L arrival
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- B738 at 7,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft, remarks: top 6,500 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 2340/FL070/TP B738/SK OVC004/RM TOP 065
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 10 nm west (280°) of BAL
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- Remarks
- top 6,500 ft
- CRJ9 at 7,000 ft, 6 nm north, 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC): overcast from 500 ft to 7,200 ft. At the departure end, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA320012/TM 2317/FL070/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 005 OVC TOPS 072
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- 12 nm northwest (320°) of DCA
- Time
- 23:17 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- bases 500 ft overcast tops 7,200 ft
5 more routine reports are on the map.
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 3 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CMH). 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 13 kt | +12 kt | 13 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 36 min | 12:41 am EDT (04:41 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 12 kt | +11 kt | 12 °C | 109 kt | 2 h 34 min | 12:39 am EDT (04:39 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 7 kt | +6 kt | 9 °C | 114 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 4 kt | +2 kt | 6 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 22 min | 12:27 am EDT (04:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 200° at 5 kt | 0 | 2 °C | 120 kt | 2 h 20 min | 12:25 am EDT (04:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 7 kt | +4 kt | -2 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 25 min | 12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 9 kt | +7 kt | -6 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 29 min | 12:34 am EDT (04:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 12 kt | +10 kt | -9 °C | 110 kt | 2 h 33 min | 12:38 am EDT (04:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 31 kt | +19 kt | -20 °C | 101 kt | 2 h 46 min | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 42 kt | +21 kt | -32 °C | 99 kt | 2 h 50 min | 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 50 kt | +26 kt | -39 °C | 94 kt | 2 h 59 min | 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 48 kt | +29 kt | -48 °C | 91 kt | 3 h 05 min | 1:10 am EDT (05:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
| EKN | used from 48 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| CMH | used from 193 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
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 | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 400 ft | 14 ft | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) |
| IAD Washington, DC | 19 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 312 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 48 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 0.75 mi | 500 ft | 564 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| CBE Cumberland, MD | 87 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 2,400 ft | 757 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 145 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 8 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,243 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| MPG Moundsville, WV | 183 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,214 ft | ||||
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 203 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 858 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| VTA Newark, OH | 261 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 700 ft | 883 ft | 02:01 UTC |
| CMH Columbus, OH | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | 800 ft | 815 ft | 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,243 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CMH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:25 am EDT (04:25 UTC)
Wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for CMH
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, 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 4 nm from the route, 19 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CMH is before sunrise there (7:38 am EDT (11:38 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, John Glenn Columbus International.