Los Angeles International to Raleigh-Durham International LAX → RDU
1,941 nautical miles (2,234 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 075°, about 063° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:28 pm EDT (22:28 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: 1,666 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 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 378 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 219 to 368 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 249 to 358 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 309 to 717 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). Over the route from 319 to 398 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 528 to 677 nm out.
- 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 route from 856 to 1264 nm out.
- 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 route from 1533 to 1802 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1642 to 1821 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 1762 to 1851 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1762 to 1851 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 route from 1821 to 1921 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 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 16 forecast points nearest it (ONT, BLH, PRC, FMN, ABQ, TCC, AMA, GAG, ICT, TUL, SGF, CGI, BNA, TYS, TRI, RDU). 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 20 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 13 h 46 min | 9:20 pm EDT (01:20 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | −18 kt | 18 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 04 min | 9:38 pm EDT (01:38 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 11 °C | 136 kt | 14 h 16 min | 9:50 pm EDT (01:50 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | −16 kt | 9 °C | 136 kt | 14 h 16 min | 9:50 pm EDT (01:50 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 5 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 04 min | 9:38 pm EDT (01:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 1 °C | 141 kt | 13 h 46 min | 9:20 pm EDT (01:20 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -3 °C | 145 kt | 13 h 23 min | 8:57 pm EDT (00:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | −30 kt | -7 °C | 150 kt | 12 h 56 min | 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 30 kt | −31 kt | -8 °C | 151 kt | 12 h 51 min | 8:25 pm EDT (00:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -19 °C | 158 kt | 12 h 17 min | 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | −56 kt | -30 °C | 176 kt | 11 h 02 min | 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 55 kt | −58 kt | -38 °C | 178 kt | 10 h 54 min | 6:28 pm EDT (22:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 50 kt | −53 kt | -49 °C | 173 kt | 11 h 13 min | 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
| BLH | used from 100 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| PRC | used from 199 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| FMN | used from 398 nm out; 116 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| ABQ | used from 547 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| TCC | used from 647 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 796 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| GAG | used from 846 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| ICT | used from 995 nm out; 65 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° |
| TUL | used from 1045 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/42 | 250/23 17° | 220/16 14° | 240/10 8° | 240/20 -6° | 260/28 -17° | 270/61 -29° | 280/52 -38° | 290/46 -50° |
| SGF | used from 1194 nm out; 35 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° |
| CGI | used from 1344 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| BNA | used from 1493 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| TYS | used from 1642 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| TRI | used from 1742 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| RDU | used from 1841 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | departure | no report just now | 127 ft | ||||
| POC La Verne, CA | 30 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,013 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 338 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 468 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 6,742 ft | ||||
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 617 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,348 ft | ||||
| PYX Perryton, TX | 876 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,918 ft | ||||
| WDG Enid, OK | 1025 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,167 ft | ||||
| BBG Branson, MO | 1244 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,302 ft | ||||
| CKV Clarksville, TN | 1523 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 549 ft | ||||
| JWN Nashville, TN | 1553 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 501 ft | ||||
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 1881 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 925 ft | ||||
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | no report just now | 435 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:28 pm EDT (22:28 UTC)
RDU 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 11 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 12 nm from the route, 1553 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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: Los Angeles International, Raleigh-Durham International.