Plan a flight · Sun 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Pensacola International DCA → PNS

709 nautical miles (816 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots; PNS is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 7 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: 2,049 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 first 140 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 60 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 160 to 390 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, 200 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 370 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the last 50 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 26,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 669 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC/TM 2319/FL260/TP B737/TB CONS MOD CHOP 260-280/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
over MVC
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
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, 12 nm northwest, 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC): overcast from 500 ft to 7,200 ft. At the departure end, 12 nm northwest 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
B737 at 1,000 ft, 8 nm east, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L DEP/TM 2247/FL010/TP B737/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L departure
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B738 at 300 ft, 26 nm northeast, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a broken layer above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2229/FL003/TP B738/SK BKN003
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 300 ft
DA62 at 700 ft, 45 nm east, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): no turbulence, overcast above 700 ft, mist, 23 °C, wind 190° at 8 knots. At the departure end, 45 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ESN UA /OV ESN/TM 2222/FL007/TP DA62/SK OVC007/WX 5BR/TA 23/WV 19008/TB TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ESN
Where
over ESN
Time
22:22 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
DA62
Sky
overcast from 700 ft
Weather
5BR
Temperature
23 °C
Wind
from 190° at 8 knots
Turbulence
turbulence no
FA8X climbing, 22 nm northwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. At the departure end, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
FA8X
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
B39M at 2,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 700 ft. At the departure end, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML320005/TM 2303/FL020/TP B39M/SK BASES OVC 007
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (320°) of AML
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Sky
bases overcast at 700 ft
A319 descending, 18 nm northwest, 6:25 pm EDT (22:25 UTC): overcast above 700 ft, light rain. At the departure end, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 2225/FLDURD/TP A319/SK OVC 007/WX 4SM W/ -RA
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
runway 1R
Time
22:25 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 700 ft
Weather
4SM, west, light rain

16 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, GSP, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB). 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	300° at 15 kt	+5 kt		115 kt	6 h 10 min	2:25 am CDT (07:25 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	+2 kt	13 °C	118 kt	6 h 01 min	2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+4 kt	10 °C	116 kt	6 h 07 min	2:22 am CDT (07:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+6 kt	8 °C	114 kt	6 h 13 min	2:28 am CDT (07:28 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+9 kt	4 °C	111 kt	6 h 23 min	2:38 am CDT (07:38 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	+13 kt	1 °C	107 kt	6 h 38 min	2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 24 kt	+17 kt	-3 °C	103 kt	6 h 53 min	3:08 am CDT (08:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 26 kt	+20 kt	-6 °C	100 kt	7 h 05 min	3:20 am CDT (08:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 34 kt	+30 kt	-18 °C	90 kt	7 h 53 min	4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 43 kt	+42 kt	-32 °C	78 kt	9 h 05 min	5:20 am CDT (10:20 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 47 kt	+46 kt	-40 °C	74 kt	9 h 35 min	5:50 am CDT (10:50 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 45 kt	+43 kt	-50 °C	77 kt	9 h 12 min	5:27 am CDT (10:27 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; 64 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°
ROA	used from 100 nm out; 48 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
GSP	used from 250 nm out; 69 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
ATL	used from 400 nm out; 56 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
CSG	used from 499 nm out; 17 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
MGM	used from 599 nm out; 50 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
MOB	used from 649 nm out; 79 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -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	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots	6 mi	400 ft	14 ft	8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC)
HEF Washington, DC	20 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (350°) at 7 knots	3 mi	500 ft	192 ft	00:56 UTC
LYH Lynchburg, VA	140 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	calm	10+ mi	400 ft	938 ft	00:54 UTC
MTV Martinsville, VA	190 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,400 ft	948 ft	23:35 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	280 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	00:53 UTC
GMU Greenville, SC	350 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,048 ft	00:53 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	420 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	812 ft	00:51 UTC
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	439 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	00:56 UTC
CSG Columbus, GA	539 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	397 ft	00:51 UTC
TOI Troy, AL	609 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	397 ft	00:53 UTC
CEW Crestview, FL	669 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	213 ft	00:53 UTC
PNS Pensacola, FL	destination	VFR	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	120 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 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 PNS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for PNS

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 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 PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PNS is before sunrise there (6:48 am CDT (11:48 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, Pensacola International.