Pellston Rgnl/Emmet County to Washington Dulles International PLN → IAD
514 nautical miles (591 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 138°, about 144° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:26 am EDT (05:26 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: 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
- SIGMET 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 69 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.
- SIGMET 2E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, 454 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2E VALID UNTIL 0255Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD AND NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS FROM 30NE SAX-30SSW HTO-30ESE EMI-50WSW HAR-30NE SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22020KT. 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 last 346 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 207 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 346 to 484 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 PLN.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (TVC, CLE, AGC, PSB, 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 | 210° at 6 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 4 h 21 min | 2:04 am EDT (06:04 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | −8 kt | 13 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 01 min | 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 11 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 59 min | 1:42 am EDT (05:42 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | −8 kt | 8 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 01 min | 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | −7 kt | 4 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 03 min | 1:46 am EDT (05:46 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 10 kt | −8 kt | 0 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 01 min | 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | −8 kt | -5 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 01 min | 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | −9 kt | -10 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 59 min | 1:42 am EDT (05:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 14 kt | −9 kt | -11 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 59 min | 1:42 am EDT (05:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 16 kt | −11 kt | -22 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 55 min | 1:38 am EDT (05:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 32 kt | −18 kt | -35 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 43 min | 1:26 am EDT (05:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 39 kt | −13 kt | -42 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 52 min | 1:35 am EDT (05:35 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 46 kt | −17 kt | -49 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 45 min | 1:28 am EDT (05:28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVC | used from 0 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 210/17 | 290/14 15° | 310/20 9° | 310/18 2° | 310/24 -11° | 320/35 -22° | 320/53 -39° | 310/45 -49° | 290/58 -51° |
| CLE | used from 148 nm out; 120 nm from the line | 340/5 | 320/13 14° | 300/12 8° | 310/10 2° | 310/14 -10° | 340/14 -23° | 320/27 -35° | 260/28 -40° | 250/36 -48° |
| AGC | used from 296 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| PSB | used from 395 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 494 nm out; 95 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLN Pellston, MI | departure | no report just now | 720 ft | ||||
| GLR Gaylord, MI | 30 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,328 ft | ||||
| APN Alpena, MI | 59 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 689 ft | ||||
| BAX Bad Axe, MI | 128 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 763 ft | ||||
| CYZR Sarnia, | 188 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 594 ft | ||||
| CYQS St Thomas, | 227 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| ERI Erie, PA | 287 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 732 ft | ||||
| FKL Franklin, PA | 336 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,540 ft | ||||
| JST Johnstown, PA | 405 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,284 ft | ||||
| HMZ Bedford, PA | 435 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,161 ft | ||||
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 474 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 564 ft | ||||
| IAD Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 312 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,284 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:26 am EDT (05:26 UTC)
IAD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 23 nm from the route, 316 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, 316 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at PLN 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAD is before sunrise there (7:16 am EDT (11:16 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: Pellston Rgnl/Emmet County, Washington Dulles International.