Northwest Florida Beaches International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport ECP → DCA
668 nautical miles (769 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 038°, about 041° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC). Right now ECP is VFR, wind calm; DCA is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 10 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: 740 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 309 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 449 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 489 nm along the route.
- 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 last 90 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 ECP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 44 nm southeast, 1:07 am CDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 598 nm along the route, 44 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- B737 at 800 ft, 26 nm northeast, 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the destination 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 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (TLH, CSG, ATL, GSP, RDU, ROA, RIC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 5 h 34 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 5 h 55 min | 9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 12 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 55 min | 9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | +5 kt | 9 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 49 min | 9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | 0 | 6 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 34 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | −4 kt | 2 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 23 min | 9:27 am EDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 24 kt | −8 kt | -2 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 13 min | 9:17 am EDT (13:17 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 27 kt | −11 kt | -6 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 06 min | 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 28 kt | −12 kt | -7 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 04 min | 9:08 am EDT (13:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 31 kt | −18 kt | -18 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 50 min | 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 31 kt | −15 kt | -32 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 57 min | 9:01 am EDT (13:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 34 kt | −19 kt | -40 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 48 min | 8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 31 kt | −14 kt | -49 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 59 min | 9:03 am EDT (13:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLH | used from 0 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
| CSG | used from 100 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| ATL | used from 199 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| GSP | used from 249 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| RDU | used from 399 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| ROA | used from 449 nm out; 54 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° |
| RIC | used from 548 nm out; 52 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECP Panama City, FL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 68 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| DHN Dothan, AL | 60 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 400 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| ABY Albany, GA | 110 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 196 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 179 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MLJ Milledgeville, GA | 209 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 384 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| GRD Greenwood, SC | 299 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 631 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | 379 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| INT Winston Salem, NC | 449 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 969 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 529 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 588 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 640 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 648 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,700 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 1,100 ft | 192 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots | 2.5 mi | 1,100 ft | 14 ft | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 969 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC)
Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet IFR
The whole forecast for DCA
- 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
The forecast for ECP, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, 160 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ECP 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 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: Northwest Florida Beaches International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.