Plan a flight · Sun 11:33 pm EDT (03:33 UTC)

Purdue University Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport LAF → DCA

467 nautical miles (537 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 098°, about 099° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LAF is VFR, wind calm; DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 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: 2 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 E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Over the last 109 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120255
MKCE WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.

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 268 to 417 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 169 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 LAF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A320 at 34,000 ft, 40 nm north, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 109 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
B38M at 29,000 ft, 22 nm north, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 308 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through MPG
Where
30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
Time
00:55 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B38M at 20,000 ft, 3 nm north, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 427 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
03:11 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
CRJ9 descending, 10 nm south, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 129 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
BCS3 climbing, 7 nm north, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 189 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
B010
BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 13 nm south, 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 258 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over JPU
Time
00:58 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
FA8X climbing, 4 nm east, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. 437 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
FA8X
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
B712 descending, 26 nm northeast, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
runway 15R
Time
03:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B712
Remarks
light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft
A320 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the destination end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
5 nm south (180°) of BAL
Time
01:46 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
CONLE5 sid
B738 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the destination end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
3 nm west (260°) of BAL
Time
01:43 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
Remarks
TERPZ8 sid
B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
over DCA
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
overcast from 400 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 6 forecast points nearest it (IND, FWA, CMH, AGC, 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	320° at 15 kt	−12 kt		132 kt	3 h 32 min	3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−14 kt	12 °C	134 kt	3 h 29 min	3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 21 kt	−14 kt	11 °C	134 kt	3 h 29 min	3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−13 kt	7 °C	133 kt	3 h 31 min	3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)
11,500 ft	340° at 19 kt	−11 kt	4 °C	131 kt	3 h 34 min	3:07 am EDT (07:07 UTC)
13,500 ft	340° at 20 kt	−12 kt	0 °C	132 kt	3 h 32 min	3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC)
15,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	−15 kt	-4 °C	135 kt	3 h 28 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 25 kt	−17 kt	-8 °C	137 kt	3 h 25 min	2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 26 kt	−18 kt	-9 °C	138 kt	3 h 23 min	2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 33 kt	−24 kt	-20 °C	144 kt	3 h 15 min	2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 41 kt	−28 kt	-36 °C	148 kt	3 h 09 min	2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 47 kt	−39 kt	-41 °C	159 kt	2 h 56 min	2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 42 kt	−34 kt	-48 °C	154 kt	3 h 02 min	2:35 am EDT (06:35 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
IND	used from 0 nm out; 38 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
FWA	used from 50 nm out; 46 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CMH	used from 99 nm out; 63 nm from the line	330/15	340/22 14°	340/24 9°	340/23 4°	340/35 -9°	340/49 -20°	340/58 -37°	330/70 -42°	340/55 -47°
AGC	used from 248 nm out; 70 nm from the line	350/14	330/20 11°	340/18 8°	330/17 3°	340/22 -11°	340/31 -22°	330/33 -36°	300/34 -41°	300/35 -47°
EKN	used from 298 nm out; 33 nm from the line		330/21 12°	330/25 7°	350/22 2°	330/24 -10°	310/27 -21°	320/33 -35°	290/31 -39°	290/34 -47°
RIC	used from 447 nm out; 83 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
LAF Lafayette, IN	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC)
GUS Peru, IN	30 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	02:55 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN	70 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	none	937 ft	03:00 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH	129 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots	8 mi	1,200 ft	1,009 ft	02:56 UTC
TZR Columbus, OH	179 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	904 ft	03:15 UTC
LCK Columbus, OH	189 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	743 ft	02:55 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	258 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	2.5 mi	400 ft	858 ft	03:28 UTC
CKB Clarksburg, WV	318 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,223 ft	03:12 UTC
MGW Morgantown, WV	328 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	600 ft	1,243 ft	03:06 UTC
MRB Martinsburg, WV	417 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (010°) at 6 knots	9 mi	500 ft	564 ft	02:53 UTC
IAD Washington, DC	447 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	312 ft	02:52 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	destination	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots	5 mi	500 ft	14 ft	10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,243 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, 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC)

Wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR

The whole forecast for DCA

From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for LAF, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 447 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at LAF 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Purdue University Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.