Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Kirksville Regional DCA → IRK
722 nautical miles (830 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 292° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC). Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 11 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 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 405 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 49 to 198 nm out.
- 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). Over the last 69 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 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
- B752 climbing, 44 nm south, 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 356 nm along the route, 44 nm south 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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CMH, CVG, IND, SPI, BRL). 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 | 290° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 12 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 53 min | 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 13 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 57 min | 10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 57 min | 10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 6 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 49 min | 9:56 am CDT (14:56 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 3 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 41 min | 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +15 kt | -1 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 53 min | 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +17 kt | -5 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 01 min | 10:08 am CDT (15:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 22 kt | +20 kt | -8 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 13 min | 10:20 am CDT (15:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 29 kt | +25 kt | -20 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 36 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 33 kt | +28 kt | -34 °C | 92 kt | 7 h 51 min | 10:58 am CDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 48 kt | +42 kt | -41 °C | 78 kt | 9 h 15 min | 12:22 pm CDT (17:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 45 kt | +39 kt | -49 °C | 81 kt | 8 h 55 min | 12:02 pm CDT (17:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 86 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° |
| EKN | used from 49 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| CMH | used from 198 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CVG | used from 346 nm out; 44 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° |
| IND | used from 395 nm out; 15 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° |
| SPI | used from 494 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| BRL | used from 643 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
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 | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots | 3 mi | 900 ft | 14 ft | 4:03 am EDT (08:03 UTC) |
| IAD Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 | 4 mi | 1,500 ft | 312 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 138 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,243 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 148 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 1,223 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LCK Columbus, OH | 277 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 800 ft | 743 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 316 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,076 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| AID Anderson, IN | 405 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 919 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 435 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 796 ft | 07:59 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 524 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 593 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| UIN Quincy, IL | 662 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| IRK Kirksville, MO | destination | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 2:55 am CDT (07:55 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 IRK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC)
IRK has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 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, overcast at 1,200 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, overcast 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 6 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 IRK 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 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, Kirksville Regional.