Rapid City Regional to Charlotte/Douglas International RAP → CLT
1,147 nautical miles (1,319 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 110°, about 102° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the east (090°) at 6 knots; CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 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: 254 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 30 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 90 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 309 to 479 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 route from 907 to 1047 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 947 to 1087 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the last 100 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 RAP.
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 12 forecast points nearest it (RAP, PIR, ONL, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, EVV, LOU, TYS, TRI, GSP). 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 | 240° at 12 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 9 h 02 min | 6:49 am EDT (10:49 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 12 kt | −11 kt | 15 °C | 131 kt | 8 h 45 min | 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −15 kt | 13 °C | 135 kt | 8 h 30 min | 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 9 °C | 137 kt | 8 h 22 min | 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 6 °C | 139 kt | 8 h 15 min | 6:02 am EDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 2 °C | 140 kt | 8 h 12 min | 5:59 am EDT (09:59 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −21 kt | -3 °C | 141 kt | 8 h 08 min | 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −22 kt | -7 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 05 min | 5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 05 min | 5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -20 °C | 145 kt | 7 h 55 min | 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -34 °C | 153 kt | 7 h 30 min | 5:17 am EDT (09:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 39 kt | −38 kt | -41 °C | 158 kt | 7 h 16 min | 5:03 am EDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 43 kt | −42 kt | -50 °C | 162 kt | 7 h 05 min | 4:52 am EDT (08:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| ONL | used from 150 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| OMA | used from 299 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| DSM | used from 399 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| BRL | used from 498 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| SPI | used from 598 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| EVV | used from 698 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| LOU | used from 847 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| TYS | used from 947 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| TRI | used from 997 nm out; 33 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° | |
| GSP | used from 1097 nm out; 53 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP Rapid City, SD | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east (090°) at 6 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 7:42 pm MDT (01:42 UTC) |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 110 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 2,724 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 140 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 2,032 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 309 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 439 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 957 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| CNC Chariton, IA | 469 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,050 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 648 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| AJG Mount Carmel, IL | 768 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: sky obscured at 700 feet Weather: haze | calm | 1.25 mi | 700 ft | 429 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 857 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| SME Somerset, KY | 937 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 927 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 1107 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CLT
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for RAP, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 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 RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLT is before sunrise there (7:27 am EDT (11:27 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: Rapid City Regional, Charlotte/Douglas International.