Harrisburg International to Wilmington International MDT → ILM
360 nautical miles (414 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 189°, about 200° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDT is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots; ILM is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 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: 1 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 190 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 230 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, at the departure 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 MDT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 800 ft, 14 nm east, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 60 nm along the route, 14 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- E145 at 800 ft, 3 nm southwest, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 160 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (PSB, RIC, RDU, ILM). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | −1 kt | 13 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 59 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −2 kt | 10 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 57 min | 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 20 kt | 0 | 8 °C | 120 kt | 3 h | 6:41 am EDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | +6 kt | 6 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 09 min | 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +12 kt | 3 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 20 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | +16 kt | -1 °C | 104 kt | 3 h 28 min | 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | +20 kt | -4 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 36 min | 7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 36 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 43 min | 7:24 am EDT (11:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 50 kt | +39 kt | -18 °C | 81 kt | 4 h 27 min | 8:08 am EDT (12:08 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 65 kt | +52 kt | -31 °C | 68 kt | 5 h 18 min | 8:59 am EDT (12:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 74 kt | +56 kt | -39 °C | 64 kt | 5 h 38 min | 9:19 am EDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 60 kt | +43 kt | -50 °C | 77 kt | 4 h 41 min | 8:22 am EDT (12:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSB | used from 0 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| RIC | used from 50 nm out; 89 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° |
| RDU | used from 250 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| ILM | used from 300 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 270/22 | 270/23 11° | 260/35 10° | 240/41 6° | 240/49 -5° | 240/61 -16° | 230/74 -30° | 220/79 -40° | 230/71 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDT Harrisburg, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 310 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC) |
| THV York, PA | 20 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 494 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 80 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots | 7 mi | 1,000 ft | 14 ft | 07:10 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 90 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 900 ft | 192 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 160 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 4 mi | 800 ft | 167 ft | 07:20 UTC |
| EMV Emporia, VA | 210 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,800 ft | 126 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| ETC Tarboro, NC | 260 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,400 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 52 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| ISO Kinston, NC | 290 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 92 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| OAJ Jacksonville, NC | 320 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 92 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| ILM Wilmington, NC | destination | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 494 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ILM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ILM
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MDT, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 50 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 70 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at MDT 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ILM 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
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: Harrisburg International, Wilmington International.