Quad Cities International to Raleigh-Durham International MLI → RDU
642 nautical miles (739 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 118°, about 117° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MLI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 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: 2 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). Over the route from 208 to 524 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 415 to 553 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 494 to 593 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 MLI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 48 nm northeast, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the departure end, 48 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
- A21N at 17,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 247 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 45 nm south (183°) of IND
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- clear
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- clear since departing KIND southbound
- B712 at 600 ft, 44 nm southwest, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 336 nm along the route, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BRL, JOT, IND, CVG, CRW, ROA, 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 | 300° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 4 h 37 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 4 h 33 min | 4:12 am EDT (08:12 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −21 kt | 12 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 33 min | 4:12 am EDT (08:12 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 8 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 37 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 4 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 41 min | 4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 0 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 37 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -3 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 31 min | 4:10 am EDT (08:10 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 26 min | 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -7 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 24 min | 4:03 am EDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 31 kt | −30 kt | -20 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 17 min | 3:56 am EDT (07:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | −35 kt | -34 °C | 155 kt | 4 h 09 min | 3:48 am EDT (07:48 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 47 kt | −47 kt | -41 °C | 167 kt | 3 h 51 min | 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 44 kt | −43 kt | -49 °C | 163 kt | 3 h 56 min | 3:35 am EDT (07:35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRL | used from 0 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| JOT | used from 49 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| IND | used from 148 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| CVG | used from 247 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 395 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| ROA | used from 494 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| RDU | used from 593 nm out; 25 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLI Moline, IL | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 59 nm out, 25 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 89 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 168 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 217 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 306 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| FGX Flemingsburg, KY | 356 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 1,100 ft | 913 ft | 03:35 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 405 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 700 ft | 828 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| BLF Bluefield, WV | 494 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 9 mi | 600 ft | 2,856 ft | 03:12 UTC |
| MTV Martinsville, VA | 563 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 948 ft | 03:35 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 593 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 925 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,856 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, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for MLI, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 306 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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: Quad Cities International, Raleigh-Durham International.