Washington Dulles International to Garden City Regional IAD → GCK
1,093 nautical miles (1,258 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 274°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 7:24 am CDT (12:24 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the first 219 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120155 MKCE WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E VALID UNTIL 0355Z PA MD VA DC WV OH FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.
- 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 298 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 189 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 288 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 IAD.
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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, IND, EVV, SPI, STL, COU, MKC, SLN, GCK). 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 | 240° at 14 kt | +13 kt | 16 °C | 107 kt | 10 h 13 min | 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 15 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 31 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 31 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 7 °C | 105 kt | 10 h 25 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 4 °C | 105 kt | 10 h 25 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | +15 kt | 0 °C | 105 kt | 10 h 25 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | +16 kt | -5 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 31 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 17 kt | +16 kt | -8 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 31 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 20 kt | +19 kt | -19 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 49 min | 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 30 kt | +29 kt | -32 °C | 91 kt | 12 h 01 min | 9:12 am CDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 37 kt | +36 kt | -40 °C | 84 kt | 13 h 01 min | 10:12 am CDT (15:12 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 42 kt | +41 kt | -49 °C | 79 kt | 13 h 50 min | 11:01 am CDT (16:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKN | used from 0 nm out; 87 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° | |
| CRW | used from 149 nm out; 47 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° |
| CMH | used from 248 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| CVG | used from 298 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 350/13 | 340/20 13° | 340/22 8° | 350/30 3° | 340/30 -9° | 340/38 -21° | 330/37 -35° | 320/38 -40° | 310/35 -47° |
| IND | used from 397 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| EVV | used from 447 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| SPI | used from 497 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| STL | used from 546 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| COU | used from 646 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| MKC | used from 745 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SLN | used from 894 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GCK | used from 993 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAD Washington, DC | departure | no report just now | 312 ft | ||||
| FRR Front Royal, VA | 40 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 703 ft | ||||
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 129 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,223 ft | ||||
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 298 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,076 ft | ||||
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 427 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 845 ft | ||||
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 457 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 586 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 543 ft | ||||
| COU Columbia, MO | 686 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 889 ft | ||||
| IXD Olathe, KS | 815 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,087 ft | ||||
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 954 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,542 ft | ||||
| LQR Larned, KS | 1013 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,012 ft | ||||
| GCK Garden City, KS | destination | no report just now | 2,890 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,890 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GCK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC)
GCK 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 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 0 nm from the route, 338 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 686 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at GCK 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GCK is before sunrise there (7:48 am CDT (12:48 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
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: Washington Dulles International, Garden City Regional.