Louis Armstrong New Orleans International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport MSY → DCA
842 nautical miles (969 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 047°, about 048° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 3,771 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 644 to 832 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE 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. Near the route, 327 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 386 to 723 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 436 to 674 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 last 238 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 50 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 MSY.
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (MSY, MOB, MGM, BHM, ATL, GSP, 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 | 290° at 12 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 6 h 38 min | 4:23 am EDT (08:23 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −3 kt | 11 °C | 123 kt | 6 h 51 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | −3 kt | 12 °C | 123 kt | 6 h 51 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −5 kt | 9 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 44 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | −6 kt | 6 °C | 126 kt | 6 h 41 min | 4:26 am EDT (08:26 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −9 kt | 2 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 32 min | 4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 21 kt | −13 kt | -1 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 20 min | 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 23 kt | −16 kt | -5 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 11 min | 3:56 am EDT (07:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 23 kt | −17 kt | -6 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 09 min | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 29 kt | −24 kt | -18 °C | 144 kt | 5 h 51 min | 3:36 am EDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 34 kt | −32 kt | -32 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 32 min | 3:17 am EDT (07:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 36 kt | −33 kt | -41 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 30 min | 3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 34 kt | −32 kt | -50 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 32 min | 3:17 am EDT (07:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSY | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 18° | L/V 12° | 300/11 7° | 330/15 -4° | 320/22 -16° | 330/38 -32° | 350/47 -42° | 340/56 -52° |
| MOB | used from 50 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/18 18° | 330/16 12° | 300/18 7° | 320/17 -6° | 330/27 -17° | 340/52 -33° | 350/53 -43° | 330/38 -50° |
| MGM | used from 149 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/30 16° | 330/34 11° | 320/31 7° | 310/28 -7° | 320/29 -17° | 290/25 -34° | 300/28 -41° | 320/28 -50° |
| BHM | used from 248 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/32 16° | 320/37 11° | 330/37 6° | 310/33 -7° | 310/30 -18° | 320/40 -34° | 330/43 -41° | 330/30 -49° |
| ATL | used from 297 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 300/23 | 320/26 14° | 320/34 10° | 320/41 5° | 290/32 -6° | 290/31 -18° | 280/28 -33° | 260/32 -41° | 250/28 -50° |
| GSP | used from 446 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| TRI | used from 545 nm out; 43 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 594 nm out; 57 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 743 nm out; 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSY New Orleans, LA | departure | no report just now | 3 ft | ||||
| HSA Bay St Louis, MS | 50 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 22 ft | ||||
| HBG Hattiesburg, MS | 89 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 150 ft | ||||
| SEM Selma, AL | 218 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 166 ft | ||||
| SCD Sylacauga, AL | 277 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 568 ft | ||||
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 376 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,040 ft | ||||
| AVL Asheville, NC | 505 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,163 ft | ||||
| GEV Jefferson, NC | 584 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,177 ft | ||||
| HLX Galax Hillsville, VA | 624 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,693 ft | ||||
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 674 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,175 ft | ||||
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 763 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 640 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,177 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:15 am EDT (07:15 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA 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: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.