Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport ICT → DCA
962 nautical miles (1,107 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 079°, about 075° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:29 pm EDT (17:29 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: 590 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 2W: 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 first 268 nm of 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). Over the last 466 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 744 to 893 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 823 to 943 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). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 ICT.
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 08:00–15:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (ICT, MKC, SGF, COU, STL, EVV, LOU, CVG, CRW, 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 | 260° at 23 kt | −24 kt | 144 kt | 6 h 41 min | 2:18 pm EDT (18:18 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 10 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 01 min | 2:38 pm EDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 12 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 11 min | 2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −12 kt | 9 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 17 min | 2:54 pm EDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 6 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 11 min | 2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 2 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 01 min | 2:38 pm EDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -2 °C | 140 kt | 6 h 52 min | 2:29 pm EDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | −22 kt | -6 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 46 min | 2:23 pm EDT (18:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 26 kt | −23 kt | -7 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 44 min | 2:21 pm EDT (18:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 29 kt | −27 kt | -19 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 33 min | 2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 44 kt | −38 kt | -33 °C | 158 kt | 6 h 05 min | 1:42 pm EDT (17:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 53 kt | −44 kt | -40 °C | 164 kt | 5 h 52 min | 1:29 pm EDT (17:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 50 kt | −41 kt | -50 °C | 161 kt | 5 h 59 min | 1:36 pm EDT (17:36 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICT | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 99 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SGF | used from 149 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| COU | used from 198 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 298 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| EVV | used from 397 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| LOU | used from 496 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| CVG | used from 595 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| CRW | used from 694 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| EKN | used from 794 nm out; 12 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 943 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICT Wichita, KS | departure | no report just now | 1,332 ft | ||||
| EQA El Dorado, KS | 30 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,379 ft | ||||
| FSK Fort Scott, KS | 129 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 918 ft | ||||
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 258 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 549 ft | ||||
| BLV Belleville, IL | 367 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 459 ft | ||||
| FOA Flora, IL | 427 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 472 ft | ||||
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 516 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 845 ft | ||||
| CVG Covington, KY | 605 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| GAS Gallipolis, OH | 724 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 565 ft | ||||
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 814 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,223 ft | ||||
| IAD Washington, DC | 943 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 312 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,379 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, 1:29 pm EDT (17:29 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 605 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 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 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ICT 6:56 pm CDT (23:56 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: Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.