George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport IAH → DCA
1,048 nautical miles (1,206 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 055°, about 052° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC). Right now IAH is VFR, wind calm; DCA is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 11 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: 6,400 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, fog). Over the last 529 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 629 to 959 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 779 to 789 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 230 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 IAH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- 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 10 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, SHV, JAN, BHM, HSV, TYS, TRI, 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 | 280° at 11 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 8 h 07 min | 12:14 pm EDT (16:14 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 300° at 12 kt | −6 kt | 11 °C | 126 kt | 8 h 19 min | 12:26 pm EDT (16:26 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | −5 kt | 13 °C | 125 kt | 8 h 23 min | 12:30 pm EDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −5 kt | 9 °C | 125 kt | 8 h 23 min | 12:30 pm EDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | −3 kt | 6 °C | 123 kt | 8 h 31 min | 12:38 pm EDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −5 kt | 2 °C | 125 kt | 8 h 23 min | 12:30 pm EDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −7 kt | -1 °C | 127 kt | 8 h 15 min | 12:22 pm EDT (16:22 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | −9 kt | -5 °C | 129 kt | 8 h 07 min | 12:14 pm EDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 21 kt | −9 kt | -6 °C | 129 kt | 8 h 07 min | 12:14 pm EDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 22 kt | −11 kt | -17 °C | 131 kt | 8 h | 12:07 pm EDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | −15 kt | -32 °C | 135 kt | 7 h 46 min | 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 38 kt | −15 kt | -40 °C | 135 kt | 7 h 46 min | 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 33 kt | −10 kt | -50 °C | 130 kt | 8 h 04 min | 12:11 pm EDT (16:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -52° |
| LCH | used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| SHV | used from 150 nm out; 81 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° |
| JAN | used from 200 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° |
| BHM | used from 399 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| HSV | used from 449 nm out; 42 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° |
| TYS | used from 599 nm out; 47 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° |
| TRI | used from 699 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° | |
| ROA | used from 799 nm out; 64 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 949 nm out; 73 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAH Houston, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 95 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| JAS Jasper, TX | 90 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 212 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 160 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TVR Tallulah, LA | 260 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 85 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 399 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 519 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 599 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 669 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,100 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,100 ft | 986 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 759 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 879 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 1028 nm out, 4 nm west 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 900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots | 3 mi | 900 ft | 14 ft | 4:03 am EDT (08:03 UTC) |
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, 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet marginal VFR
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 IAH, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 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 12 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.