Raleigh-Durham International to Addison Airport RDU → ADS
909 nautical miles (1,047 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 273° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 2:22 pm CDT (19:22 UTC). Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots; ADS is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 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: 1 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 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 20 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 230 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 240 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 170 to 310 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 200 to 340 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 RDU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 30,000 ft, 20 nm north, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 20 nm north (360°) of RDU
- Time
- 10:51 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- A319 at 19,000 ft, 43 nm south, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 49. 230 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ODF/TM 1042/FL190/TP A319/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 49
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ODF
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ztlfd 49
- B38M at 35,000 ft, 26 nm south, 6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 39. 290 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV GQO110025/TM 1004/FL350/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 39
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 25 nm east (110°) of GQO
- Time
- 10:04 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 39
- CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 8 nm southeast, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. 320 nm along the route, 8 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1015/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- over CHA
- Time
- 10:15 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- TOP010
- Remarks
- during the climb runway 20 departure
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 8 forecast points nearest it (RDU, GSP, TYS, HSV, MEM, LIT, SHV, DAL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 107 kt | 8 h 30 min | 2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 15 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 20 min | 2:22 pm CDT (19:22 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | +12 kt | 11 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 25 min | 2:27 pm CDT (19:27 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | +13 kt | 8 °C | 107 kt | 8 h 30 min | 2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 5 °C | 107 kt | 8 h 30 min | 2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 1 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 35 min | 2:37 pm CDT (19:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | +14 kt | -3 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 35 min | 2:37 pm CDT (19:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 20 kt | +15 kt | -6 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 39 min | 2:41 pm CDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 21 kt | +16 kt | -18 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 44 min | 2:46 pm CDT (19:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 38 kt | +24 kt | -31 °C | 96 kt | 9 h 28 min | 3:30 pm CDT (20:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 43 kt | +24 kt | -40 °C | 96 kt | 9 h 28 min | 3:30 pm CDT (20:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 39 kt | +21 kt | -50 °C | 99 kt | 9 h 11 min | 3:13 pm CDT (20:13 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
| GSP | used from 100 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| TYS | used from 200 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| HSV | used from 300 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| MEM | used from 500 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| LIT | used from 600 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| SHV | used from 750 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| DAL | used from 799 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 190/30 | 200/28 18° | 220/18 13° | 250/13 8° | 240/24 -6° | 270/20 -14° | 270/35 -29° | 290/34 -39° | 310/41 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC) |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 70 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 609 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 130 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 190 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 2,163 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 320 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.13 mi | 200 ft | 682 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 400 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 500 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 346 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CKM Clarksdale, MS | 580 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 173 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| PBF Pine Bluff, AR | 650 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 205 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TXK Texarkana, AR | 760 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 389 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| GVT Greenville, TX | 869 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 534 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| ADS Dallas, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ADS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:22 pm CDT (19:22 UTC)
ADS has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for RDU, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at ADS 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Addison Airport.