Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to San Antonio International DCA → SAT
1,198 nautical miles (1,379 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 260° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC). 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: 688 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 130 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- 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 529 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 399 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 210 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 260 nm along 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
Not fetched just now.
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 13 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, ROA, CRW, TRI, TYS, BNA, HSV, MEM, JAN, SHV, CLL, SAT). 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 | 280° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 11 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | +9 kt | 14 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | +9 kt | 11 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | +7 kt | 8 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 36 min | 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 10 h 31 min | 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +7 kt | 1 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 36 min | 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +9 kt | -3 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 18 kt | +9 kt | -6 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 48 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 20 kt | +11 kt | -17 °C | 109 kt | 10 h 59 min | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 33 kt | +15 kt | -31 °C | 105 kt | 11 h 25 min | 11:41 am CDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 35 kt | +16 kt | -40 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 31 min | 11:47 am CDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 35 kt | +12 kt | -50 °C | 108 kt | 11 h 06 min | 11:22 am CDT (16:22 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; 72 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 50 nm out; 70 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° | |
| ROA | used from 100 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| CRW | used from 200 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 250 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 349 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 449 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| HSV | used from 499 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| MEM | used from 599 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| JAN | used from 699 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| SHV | used from 799 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| CLL | used from 998 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
| SAT | used from 1148 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 150/26 | 180/18 19° | 180/18 14° | 200/14 9° | 230/16 -6° | 210/9 -13° | 270/8 -29° | 280/6 -39° | 340/19 -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 | no report just now | 14 ft | ||||
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 192 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 170 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,301 ft | ||||
| LNP Wise, VA | 280 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,684 ft | ||||
| RNC Mc Minnville, TN | 459 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,031 ft | ||||
| GZS Pulaski, TN | 529 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 688 ft | ||||
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 629 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 346 ft | ||||
| GLH Greenville, MS | 749 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 130 ft | ||||
| SHV Shreveport, LA | 899 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 257 ft | ||||
| CLL College Station, TX | 1068 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 320 ft | ||||
| HYI Austin, TX | 1158 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 594 ft | ||||
| SAT San Antonio, TX | destination | no report just now | 809 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC)
SAT has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 12 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 SAT 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 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, San Antonio International.