Plan a flight · Sun 7:32 pm CDT (00:32 UTC)

Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Richmond International MEM → RIC

630 nautical miles (725 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 074° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:37 am EDT (04:37 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots; RIC is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 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: 653 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 E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 160 nm of the route.

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.

AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 210 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 220 to 480 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 250 to 530 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 390 to 490 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 540 to 550 nm out.

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 MEM.

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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 41 nm south, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 80 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through TUP
Where
41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
BE40
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
zme
B763 at 29,000 ft, 46 nm south, 5:15 pm CDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 90 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSL
Where
20 nm west (270°) of MSL
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZME31
A321 at 30,000 ft, 30 nm north, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 350 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
PA46 at 23,000 ft, 20 nm south, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 400 nm along the route, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
E145 at 9,000 ft, 3 nm west, 4:56 pm CDT (21:56 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast up to 9,000 ft, heavy rain. 540 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2156/FL090/TP E145/SK OVCUNKN-TOP090/WX +RA/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LYH
Where
over LYH
Time
21:56 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast, tops 9,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
A319 at 39,000 ft, 2 nm south, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through MEM
Where
over MEM
Time
23:11 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
smooth
B38M at 35,000 ft, 8 nm north, 4:34 pm CDT (21:34 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 40 nm along the route, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL225020/TM 2134/FL350/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
20 nm southwest (225°) of MKL
Time
21:34 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zme
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 47 nm north, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 50 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B38M at 25,000 ft, 34 nm north, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 90 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
B77W at 31,000 ft, 44 nm north, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 160 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm north, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 160 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
P28A at 2,100 ft, 9 nm northwest, 4:33 pm CDT (21:33 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 180 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MQY UA /OV MQY/TM 2133/FL021/TP P28A/RM BASE 021
```
Report
a routine report filed through MQY
Where
over MQY
Time
21:33 UTC
Height
at 2,100 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Remarks
base 2,100 ft
T206 at 9,000 ft, 33 nm south, 5:47 pm CDT (22:47 UTC): remarks: ZME60. 220 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA340032/TM 2247/FL090/TP T206/SK TOP070/RM ZME60
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
32 nm north (340°) of CHA
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
T206
Sky
TOP070
Remarks
ZME60
E170 at 33,000 ft, 25 nm south, 5:22 pm CDT (22:22 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-03. 280 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV270025/TM 2222/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP 330/RM ZTLFD-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
25 nm west (270°) of VXV
Time
22:22 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop at 33,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-03

12 more routine reports are on the map.

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 6 forecast points nearest it (MEM, BNA, TYS, TRI, 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 11 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	4 h 49 min	1:21 am EDT (05:21 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	−11 kt	11 °C	131 kt	4 h 49 min	1:21 am EDT (05:21 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−12 kt	11 °C	132 kt	4 h 46 min	1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	−13 kt	8 °C	133 kt	4 h 44 min	1:16 am EDT (05:16 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	−12 kt	5 °C	132 kt	4 h 46 min	1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	−14 kt	1 °C	134 kt	4 h 42 min	1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−15 kt	-3 °C	135 kt	4 h 40 min	1:12 am EDT (05:12 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−17 kt	-6 °C	137 kt	4 h 36 min	1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 24 kt	−17 kt	-7 °C	137 kt	4 h 36 min	1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 29 kt	−26 kt	-19 °C	146 kt	4 h 19 min	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 36 kt	−34 kt	-32 °C	154 kt	4 h 05 min	12:37 am EDT (04:37 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 36 kt	−33 kt	-40 °C	153 kt	4 h 07 min	12:39 am EDT (04:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 32 kt	−31 kt	-49 °C	151 kt	4 h 10 min	12:42 am EDT (04:42 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

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
MEM	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
BNA	used from 100 nm out; 51 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
TYS	used from 250 nm out; 39 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
TRI	used from 350 nm out; 13 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
ROA	used from 450 nm out; 31 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
RIC	used from 550 nm out; 55 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 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

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
MEM Memphis, TN	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)
MKL Jackson, TN	60 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	23:53 UTC
PVE Lexington-Parsons, TN	90 nm out, 11 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	487 ft	00:15 UTC
MQY Smyrna, TN	180 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	23:56 UTC
SRB Sparta, TN	230 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist	calm	1.75 mi	1,800 ft	1,025 ft	00:15 UTC
JAU Jacksboro, TN	290 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet	variable at 4 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	1,300 ft	1,179 ft	00:10 UTC
RVN Rogersville, TN	360 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,254 ft
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	380 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	1,518 ft	23:53 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	500 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist	from the north (350°) at 7 knots	2 mi	1,600 ft	1,175 ft	00:05 UTC
LYH Lynchburg, VA	540 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,500 ft	938 ft	00:07 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	600 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	167 ft	8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 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, 12:37 am EDT (04:37 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIC

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, thunderstorms with rain, overcast at 600 feet (thunderheads)
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet

The forecast for MEM, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet

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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIC 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 lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport, Richmond International.