Robert Gray Army Airfield to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport GRK → DCA
1,121 nautical miles (1,290 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 056° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:29 am EDT (09:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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
- SIGMET 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 863 to 1111 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 last 417 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 714 to 1052 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Near the route, 893 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 79 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 GRK.
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 20:00–03:00 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 12 forecast points nearest it (CLL, DAL, SHV, LIT, MEM, BNA, TYS, TRI, CRW, ROA, EKN, 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 | 230° at 10 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 8 h 37 min | 6:25 am EDT (10:25 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 12 kt | −11 kt | 12 °C | 131 kt | 8 h 33 min | 6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −12 kt | 12 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 30 min | 6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 9 °C | 133 kt | 8 h 26 min | 6:14 am EDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 6 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 30 min | 6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −12 kt | 2 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 30 min | 6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −12 kt | -2 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 30 min | 6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −13 kt | -6 °C | 133 kt | 8 h 26 min | 6:14 am EDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 20 kt | −13 kt | -7 °C | 133 kt | 8 h 26 min | 6:14 am EDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 24 kt | −18 kt | -18 °C | 138 kt | 8 h 07 min | 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 33 kt | −26 kt | -31 °C | 146 kt | 7 h 41 min | 5:29 am EDT (09:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 33 kt | −25 kt | -40 °C | 145 kt | 7 h 44 min | 5:32 am EDT (09:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 31 kt | −24 kt | -50 °C | 144 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:35 am EDT (09:35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLL | used from 0 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| DAL | used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -52° |
| SHV | used from 149 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| LIT | used from 298 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 220/12 | 250/12 17° | 250/18 12° | 260/22 6° | 310/14 -5° | 310/25 -17° | 310/40 -31° | 310/38 -41° | 310/46 -52° |
| MEM | used from 397 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 240/9 | 280/14 17° | 280/20 12° | 290/25 5° | 320/25 -6° | 330/31 -18° | 320/52 -32° | 330/58 -41° | 320/42 -50° |
| BNA | used from 546 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| TYS | used from 695 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| TRI | used from 794 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| CRW | used from 893 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 320/16 | 310/16 12° | 320/12 7° | 320/12 2° | 330/15 -11° | 280/11 -22° | 230/26 -30° | 240/33 -37° | 240/37 -47° |
| ROA | used from 943 nm out; 41 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° |
| EKN | used from 992 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| RIC | used from 1042 nm out; 74 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | departure | no report just now | 1,015 ft | ||||
| CNW Waco, TX | 50 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 470 ft | ||||
| TYR Tyler, TX | 149 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 543 ft | ||||
| DTN Shreveport, LA | 228 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 179 ft | ||||
| CKM Clarksdale, MS | 417 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 173 ft | ||||
| OLV Olive Branch, MS | 466 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 401 ft | ||||
| MQY Smyrna, TN | 635 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 543 ft | ||||
| BYL Williamsburg, KY | 764 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,177 ft | ||||
| EBD Williamson, WV | 873 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,883 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 953 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,301 ft | ||||
| HEF Washington, DC | 1101 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 192 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 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, 5:29 am EDT (09:29 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 7 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZFW
- 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 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at GRK 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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: Robert Gray Army Airfield, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.