Plan a flight · Sun 8:46 pm CDT (01:46 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Richmond International ORD → RIC

557 nautical miles (641 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 115°, about 118° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:29 am EDT (05:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; RIC is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27. 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: 4,813 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 last 269 nm of the route.

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 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 189 to 547 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 338 to 478 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, 428 nm along 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 ORD.

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

B38M at 29,000 ft, 48 nm northeast, 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 368 nm along the route, 48 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through MPG
Where
30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
Time
00:55 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
Remarks
zob
UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 30 nm northeast, 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 398 nm along the route, 30 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B39M at 35,000 ft, 19 nm southwest, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 30 nm along the route, 19 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
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 30 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 129 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E145 at 2,600 ft, 3 nm northwest, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 139 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B026
A321 at 21,000 ft, 13 nm south, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 199 nm along the route, 13 nm south 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
E545 at 28,000 ft, 13 nm south, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence. 199 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 2315/FL280/TP E545/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E545
Turbulence
none
CRJ9 descending, 37 nm southwest, 8:15 pm CDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 209 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest 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
E145 climbing, 37 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 209 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B005 T035
BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 4 nm southwest, 7:27 pm CDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 259 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest 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
BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 7:58 pm CDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 338 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over JPU
Time
00:58 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
E170 at 500 ft, 6 nm east, 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 487 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
over CHO
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
BCS3 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
00:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
bases 600 ft

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 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, FWA, CMH, EKN, 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	310° at 6 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	4 h 25 min	2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 11 kt	−11 kt	13 °C	131 kt	4 h 15 min	2:01 am EDT (06:01 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 11 kt	−10 kt	11 °C	130 kt	4 h 17 min	2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 9 kt	−7 kt	8 °C	127 kt	4 h 23 min	2:09 am EDT (06:09 UTC)
11,500 ft	340° at 7 kt	−5 kt	4 °C	125 kt	4 h 27 min	2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 8 kt	−6 kt	0 °C	126 kt	4 h 25 min	2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 11 kt	−9 kt	-4 °C	129 kt	4 h 19 min	2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 13 kt	−12 kt	-8 °C	132 kt	4 h 13 min	1:59 am EDT (05:59 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 13 kt	−12 kt	-9 °C	132 kt	4 h 13 min	1:59 am EDT (05:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 20 kt	−18 kt	-21 °C	138 kt	4 h 02 min	1:48 am EDT (05:48 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 27 kt	−22 kt	-34 °C	142 kt	3 h 55 min	1:41 am EDT (05:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 33 kt	−23 kt	-40 °C	143 kt	3 h 54 min	1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 36 kt	−30 kt	-48 °C	150 kt	3 h 43 min	1:29 am EDT (05:29 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 38 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
FWA	used from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CMH	used from 199 nm out; 33 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
EKN	used from 348 nm out; 40 nm from the line		270/18 13°	310/5 7°	140/7 3°	210/16 -9°	220/41 -20°	210/57 -32°	220/57 -38°	230/49 -47°
RIC	used from 497 nm out; 35 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
ORD Chicago, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC)
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	30 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	596 ft	00:50 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	70 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	00:54 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	139 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	814 ft	00:54 UTC
EDJ Bellefontaine, OH	209 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	calm	7 mi	400 ft	1,121 ft	01:35 UTC
OSU Columbus, OH	249 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots	4 mi	900 ft	905 ft	00:53 UTC
ZZV Zanesville, OH	298 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	899 ft	01:05 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	338 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots	3 mi	600 ft	858 ft	01:33 UTC
EKN Elkins, WV	408 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	calm	2 mi	900 ft	1,987 ft	01:41 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	487 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	7 mi	500 ft	640 ft	01:28 UTC
LKU Louisa, VA	517 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	from the north (010°) at 5 knots	7 mi	400 ft	493 ft	23:35 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	4,000 ft	167 ft	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 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, 1:29 am EDT (05:29 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIC

From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, 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 ORD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 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 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: Chicago O'Hare International, Richmond International.