Plan a flight · Sun 10:04 pm CDT (03:04 UTC)

Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Raleigh-Durham International MSN → RDU

654 nautical miles (753 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 128°, about 131° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 53 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 287 to 555 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 426 to 585 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 515 to 604 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 MSN.

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

A320 at 34,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 258 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
E295 at 37,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. 40 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop
B39M at 35,000 ft, 27 nm southwest, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 119 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
A321 at 21,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 287 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
CRJ9 descending, 4 nm southeast, 8:15 pm CDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 297 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
BCS3 climbing, 44 nm northeast, 9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 347 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
B010
BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 44 nm northeast, 7:27 pm CDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 347 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
00:27 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
T037
CRJ9 climbing, 14 nm northeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 456 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 4 nm north, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 495 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
E135 descending, 4 nm north, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 495 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over BKW
Time
00:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E135
Sky
bases 3,200 ft
E145 at 4,000 ft, 19 nm northeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 545 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
C52C at 12,500 ft, 11 nm southwest, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 545 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none

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 (DBQ, JOT, FWA, CMH, 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 42 min	3:46 am EDT (07:46 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	−21 kt		141 kt	4 h 38 min	3:42 am EDT (07:42 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	4 h 40 min	3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−19 kt	8 °C	139 kt	4 h 42 min	3:46 am EDT (07:46 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 17 kt	−17 kt	4 °C	137 kt	4 h 46 min	3:50 am EDT (07:50 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−19 kt	0 °C	139 kt	4 h 42 min	3:46 am EDT (07:46 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	−22 kt	-3 °C	142 kt	4 h 36 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 25 kt	−25 kt	-7 °C	145 kt	4 h 31 min	3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-8 °C	146 kt	4 h 29 min	3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 31 kt	−31 kt	-20 °C	151 kt	4 h 20 min	3:24 am EDT (07:24 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 36 kt	−36 kt	-34 °C	156 kt	4 h 12 min	3:16 am EDT (07:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 46 kt	−45 kt	-41 °C	165 kt	3 h 58 min	3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 45 kt	−45 kt	-49 °C	165 kt	3 h 58 min	3:02 am EDT (07:02 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
DBQ	used from 0 nm out; 85 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
JOT	used from 50 nm out; 51 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°
FWA	used from 149 nm out; 55 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CMH	used from 297 nm out; 49 nm from the line	330/15	340/22 14°	340/24 9°	340/23 4°	340/35 -9°	340/49 -20°	340/58 -37°	330/70 -42°	340/55 -47°
CRW	used from 396 nm out; 35 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 495 nm out; 39 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 595 nm out; 35 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
MSN Madison, WI	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC)
JVL Janesville, WI	30 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	807 ft	02:35 UTC
UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL	79 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	728 ft	02:51 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	159 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	02:54 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	228 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	8 mi	none	814 ft	02:54 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH	297 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots	8 mi	1,200 ft	1,009 ft	02:56 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH	337 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots	6 mi	900 ft	1,076 ft	02:54 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	456 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist	variable at 4 knots	1 mi	700 ft	947 ft	02:54 UTC
BKW Beckley, WV	495 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots	8 mi	300 ft	2,503 ft	02:51 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	555 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,900 ft	1,175 ft	02:54 UTC
TDF Roxboro, NC	634 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,400 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	4,400 ft	608 ft	02:55 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 2,503 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, 3:02 am EDT (07:02 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 MSN, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, Raleigh-Durham International.