Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Greenville Spartanburg International DCA → GSP
344 nautical miles (396 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC). Right now DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots; GSP is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 9 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: 1,939 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 first 167 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the last 334 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 216 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the last 108 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 DCA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- 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
- B737 at 800 ft, 26 nm northeast, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
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 3 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, GSP). 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 29 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 2 h 39 min | 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 28 kt | −13 kt | 12 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 35 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 350° at 29 kt | −14 kt | 10 °C | 134 kt | 2 h 34 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | −12 kt | 7 °C | 132 kt | 2 h 36 min | 8:42 am EDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | −10 kt | 3 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 39 min | 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 340° at 32 kt | −10 kt | -1 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 39 min | 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 35 kt | −11 kt | -5 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 38 min | 8:44 am EDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 38 kt | −11 kt | -8 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 38 min | 8:44 am EDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 44 kt | −16 kt | -20 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 32 min | 8:38 am EDT (12:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 51 kt | −18 kt | -33 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 30 min | 8:36 am EDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 340° at 49 kt | −19 kt | -40 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 28 min | 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 39 kt | +10 kt | -48 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 08 min | 9:14 am EDT (13:14 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; 64 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 98 nm out; 50 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° |
| GSP | used from 246 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA Washington, DC | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 14 ft | 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) |
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet | from the north (350°) at 10 knots | 3 mi | 4,200 ft | 192 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 79 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 640 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| FVX Farmville, VA | 108 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | calm | 7 mi | none | 415 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 138 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 938 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| MTV Martinsville, VA | 197 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 948 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| INT Winston Salem, NC | 226 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 969 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 275 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| EHO Shelby, NC | 305 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 846 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| GSP Greer, SC | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 963 ft | 5:53 am EDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,189 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for GSP
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,900 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 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 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, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 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 3,500 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 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 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 GSP 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 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, Greenville Spartanburg International.