Raleigh-Durham International to Boeing Fld/King County International RDU → BFI
2,041 nautical miles (2,349 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 313° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 17 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 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
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 229 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, fog). Over the route from 110 to 388 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 627 to 926 nm out.
- 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 1036 to 1762 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 1255 to 1344 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1285 to 1474 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 1304 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1484 to 1882 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1484 to 1792 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 1633 to 2011 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
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 21 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, CRW, CVG, IND, JOT, SPI, BRL, DSM, MCW, FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, LWS, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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 | 250° at 5 kt | +3 kt | 8 °C | 117 kt | 17 h 27 min | 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 5 kt | +5 kt | 10 °C | 115 kt | 17 h 45 min | 6:54 pm PDT (01:54 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 6 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 17 h 54 min | 7:03 pm PDT (02:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 7 kt | +6 kt | 3 °C | 114 kt | 17 h 54 min | 7:03 pm PDT (02:03 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 18 h 04 min | 7:13 pm PDT (02:13 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 12 kt | +10 kt | -4 °C | 110 kt | 18 h 33 min | 7:42 pm PDT (02:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -8 °C | 107 kt | 19 h 04 min | 8:13 pm PDT (03:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 16 kt | +15 kt | -11 °C | 105 kt | 19 h 26 min | 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 19 kt | +17 kt | -22 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 49 min | 8:58 pm PDT (03:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 24 kt | +22 kt | -35 °C | 98 kt | 20 h 50 min | 9:59 pm PDT (04:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 38 kt | +36 kt | -40 °C | 84 kt | 24 h 18 min | 1:27 am PDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 42 kt | +39 kt | -47 °C | 81 kt | 25 h 12 min | 2:21 am PDT (09:21 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| CRW | used from 149 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| CVG | used from 249 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| IND | used from 398 nm out; 11 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 498 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| SPI | used from 548 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| BRL | used from 597 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 697 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| MCW | used from 797 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| FSD | used from 846 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| PIR | used from 1046 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 1195 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| MLS | used from 1294 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| BIL | used from 1394 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| GTF | used from 1543 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 070/11 | 080/15 -7° | 110/19 -9° | 190/25 -14° | 200/34 -23° | 200/54 -39° | 220/66 -40° | 220/77 -44° | |
| GPI | used from 1693 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| LWS | used from 1743 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| GEG | used from 1792 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 080/16 -2° | 050/17 -7° | 080/9 -10° | 190/33 -21° | 180/31 -32° | L/V -35° | L/V -37° | 270/8 -40° | |
| YKM | used from 1892 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| SEA | used from 1992 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
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 | no report just now | 435 ft | ||||
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 50 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 925 ft | ||||
| BAK Columbus, IN | 398 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 656 ft | ||||
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 548 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 871 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 647 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 946 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,430 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 1105 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,744 ft | ||||
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 1255 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| HLN Helena, MT | 1613 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,877 ft | ||||
| MSO Missoula, MT | 1703 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,205 ft | ||||
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 1922 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,188 ft | ||||
| BFI Seattle, WA | destination | no report just now | 21 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC)
BFI has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at BFI 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFI is after sunset there (6:27 pm PDT (01:27 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Boeing Fld/King County International.