Los Angeles International to Richmond International LAX → RIC
1,998 nautical miles (2,300 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 072°, about 060° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 61-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:07 pm EDT (21:07 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: 209 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 70 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 60 to 500 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 240 to 380 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 300 to 360 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 310 to 759 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 390 to 520 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 510 to 689 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 639 to 1279 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, fog). Over the last 480 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1719 to 1878 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1808 to 1948 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 19 forecast points nearest it (ONT, BLH, LAS, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GCK, ICT, SGF, COU, STL, CGI, EVV, LOU, CVG, CRW, 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 | 260° at 21 kt | −22 kt | 142 kt | 14 h 04 min | 8:09 pm EDT (00:09 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −20 kt | 18 °C | 140 kt | 14 h 16 min | 8:21 pm EDT (00:21 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 14 h 22 min | 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −19 kt | 8 °C | 139 kt | 14 h 22 min | 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −21 kt | 4 °C | 141 kt | 14 h 10 min | 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −24 kt | 0 °C | 144 kt | 13 h 52 min | 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | −28 kt | -3 °C | 148 kt | 13 h 30 min | 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 30 kt | −31 kt | -7 °C | 151 kt | 13 h 14 min | 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 30 kt | −32 kt | -8 °C | 152 kt | 13 h 09 min | 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 38 kt | −39 kt | -20 °C | 159 kt | 12 h 34 min | 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | −56 kt | -31 °C | 176 kt | 11 h 21 min | 5:26 pm EDT (21:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 56 kt | −61 kt | -38 °C | 181 kt | 11 h 02 min | 5:07 pm EDT (21:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | −56 kt | -48 °C | 176 kt | 11 h 21 min | 5:26 pm EDT (21:26 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 150 nm out; 73 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° |
| LAS | used from 200 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| PRC | used from 250 nm out; 49 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 400 nm out; 105 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° | ||
| ALS | used from 599 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| PUB | used from 699 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| GCK | used from 799 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| ICT | used from 949 nm out; 69 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° |
| SGF | used from 1149 nm out; 70 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 1299 nm out; 63 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 1349 nm out; 48 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° |
| CGI | used from 1399 nm out; 46 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° |
| EVV | used from 1449 nm out; 39 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 1549 nm out; 32 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 1649 nm out; 72 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 1699 nm out; 76 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° |
| ROA | used from 1848 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| RIC | used from 1948 nm out; 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 200 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 707 ft | ||||
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 470 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,742 ft | ||||
| RTN Raton, NM | 699 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 6,352 ft | ||||
| MEJ Meade, KS | 899 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,527 ft | ||||
| ICT Wichita, KS | 1039 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,332 ft | ||||
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 1299 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,159 ft | ||||
| EVV Evansville, IN | 1509 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 421 ft | ||||
| LEX Lexington, KY | 1649 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 979 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 1848 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,301 ft | ||||
| RIC Richmond, VA | destination | no report just now | 167 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,742 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:07 pm EDT (21:07 UTC)
RIC 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 4 nm from the route, 200 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC), at RIC 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
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, Richmond International.