The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 5:09 pm PDT (00:09 UTC)

Los Angeles International to Washington Dulles International LAX → IAD

1,984 nautical miles (2,283 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 069°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:02 am EDT (12:02 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: 4,950 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 299 to 329 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    TX NM AZ
    FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 468 to 738 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    CO NM AZ UT
    FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
  • SIGMET E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1754 to 1914 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 112355
    MKCE WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
    FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC
    AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
  • SIGMET E16E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 25 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 112355
    MKCE WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16E
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ NY CSTL WTRS
    FROM SAX-30SE JFK-10N DCA-60ENE EKN-SAX
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22025KT. TOPS TO FL320.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 70 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 169 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 608 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 349 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 169 to 588 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 189 to 738 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 339 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 419 to 459 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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, 578 nm along 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 319 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1794 to 1954 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 120 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 LAX.

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 18 forecast points nearest it (ONT, LAS, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU, STL, SPI, IND, CVG, CMH, CRW, EKN, RIC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft220° at 12 kt−10 kt130 kt15 h 16 min11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC)
5,500 ft230° at 16 kt−15 kt16 °C135 kt14 h 42 min10:51 am EDT (14:51 UTC)
7,500 ft230° at 18 kt−18 kt12 °C138 kt14 h 23 min10:32 am EDT (14:32 UTC)
9,500 ft240° at 19 kt−19 kt9 °C139 kt14 h 16 min10:25 am EDT (14:25 UTC)
11,500 ft240° at 19 kt−20 kt5 °C140 kt14 h 10 min10:19 am EDT (14:19 UTC)
13,500 ft240° at 21 kt−21 kt1 °C141 kt14 h 04 min10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC)
15,500 ft240° at 23 kt−23 kt-3 °C143 kt13 h 52 min10:01 am EDT (14:01 UTC)
17,500 ft240° at 25 kt−25 kt-8 °C145 kt13 h 41 min9:50 am EDT (13:50 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 25 kt−26 kt-9 °C146 kt13 h 35 min9:44 am EDT (13:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 31 kt−31 kt-19 °C151 kt13 h 08 min9:17 am EDT (13:17 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300250° at 42 kt−42 kt-31 °C162 kt12 h 15 min8:24 am EDT (12:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 46 kt−46 kt-38 °C166 kt11 h 57 min8:06 am EDT (12:06 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390250° at 45 kt−47 kt-48 °C167 kt11 h 53 min8:02 am EDT (12:02 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
ONTused from 0 nm out; 17 nm from the line230/11200/17 6°230/27 4°230/32 -2°210/39 -12°220/51 -20°220/48 -29°210/51 -34°210/52 -44°
LASused from 150 nm out; 69 nm from the line200/25 11°230/22 5°240/25 -1°220/37 -12°220/44 -21°210/52 -27°210/60 -34°220/58 -44°
PRCused from 249 nm out; 60 nm from the line200/36 6°210/46 0°220/60 -10°220/75 -19°220/66 -26°230/70 -33°230/59 -45°
FMNused from 399 nm out; 102 nm from the line220/25 13°220/28 4°210/51 -9°220/59 -21°230/78 -30°230/77 -36°230/66 -46°
ALSused from 598 nm out; 30 nm from the line210/32 5°230/48 -8°230/49 -20°230/78 -30°240/74 -36°240/61 -47°
PUBused from 698 nm out; 55 nm from the line210/24 16°210/28 8°230/43 -8°240/42 -21°240/77 -30°240/72 -36°250/51 -47°
GCKused from 797 nm out; 68 nm from the line200/35 21°220/34 14°240/30 8°240/27 -6°240/31 -17°240/53 -30°250/55 -39°250/60 -50°
SLNused from 947 nm out; 75 nm from the line190/37220/39 20°240/31 14°250/24 7°260/25 -7°250/26 -17°250/44 -31°260/47 -40°260/47 -50°
MKCused from 1096 nm out; 70 nm from the line200/28220/30 16°270/20 11°280/22 7°260/27 -6°270/27 -18°280/38 -32°270/38 -40°280/50 -52°
COUused from 1246 nm out; 24 nm from the line210/16220/19 15°240/33 10°250/29 7°280/21 -6°280/19 -18°300/34 -31°300/40 -42°300/60 -52°
STLused from 1346 nm out; 17 nm from the line210/13260/16 17°270/21 10°280/24 5°310/20 -7°320/22 -18°320/44 -33°320/59 -43°310/69 -51°
SPIused from 1445 nm out; 73 nm from the line210/13260/11 17°270/18 10°290/21 4°310/20 -8°330/25 -19°320/49 -34°320/60 -44°320/59 -50°
INDused from 1495 nm out; 63 nm from the line320/10350/30 16°350/32 10°350/30 4°340/31 -10°340/42 -21°340/49 -37°320/46 -41°320/47 -47°
CVGused from 1595 nm out; 28 nm from the line350/13340/20 13°340/22 8°350/30 3°340/30 -9°340/38 -21°330/37 -35°320/38 -40°310/35 -47°
CMHused from 1695 nm out; 53 nm from the line340/14320/13 12°350/12 8°360/10 2°350/27 -10°340/20 -22°320/31 -35°270/25 -39°260/32 -48°
CRWused from 1744 nm out; 50 nm from the line320/16310/16 12°320/12 7°320/12 2°330/15 -11°280/11 -22°230/26 -30°240/33 -37°240/37 -47°
EKNused from 1844 nm out; 11 nm from the line270/18 13°310/5 7°140/7 3°210/16 -9°220/41 -20°210/57 -32°220/57 -38°230/49 -47°
RICused from 1944 nm out; 92 nm from the line190/33200/29 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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
LAX Los Angeles, CA departure no report just now 127 ft
EMT El Monte, CA 20 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 295 ft
IFP Bullhead City, AZ 199 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower no report just now 707 ft
FMN Farmington, NM 528 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower no report just now 5,506 ft
TAD Trinidad, CO 718 nm out, 8 nm south of the line no report just now 5,761 ft
GCK Garden City, KS 887 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower no report just now 2,890 ft
IXD Olathe, KS 1166 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 1,087 ft
COU Columbia, MO 1296 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 889 ft
BMG Bloomington, IN 1555 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower no report just now 845 ft
LUK Cincinnati, OH 1655 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower no report just now 481 ft
CKB Clarksburg, WV 1854 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 1,223 ft
IAD Washington, DC destination no report just now 312 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,761 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:02 am EDT (12:02 UTC)

IAD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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

  • 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
  • 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
  • 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, 1296 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
  • 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, 1645 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
  • 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
  • 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at LAX 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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 Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Los Angeles International, Washington Dulles International.