Raleigh-Durham International to Nashville International RDU → BNA
383 nautical miles (441 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; BNA is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 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: 5,607 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 route from 49 to 187 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 138 to 305 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 265 to 315 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
- S22T descending, 27 nm north, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 177 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 23 tri
- A320 descending, 15 nm south, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 246 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 4 northeast tys
- Time
- 01:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Remarks
- base 2,100 ft
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 50 nm north, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. At the destination end, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
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 4 forecast points nearest it (RDU, TRI, TYS, BNA). 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 | 320° at 21 kt | +15 kt | 11 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 39 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +13 kt | 12 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 35 min | 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 3 h 41 min | 1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 43 min | 1:49 am CDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | +17 kt | 3 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 43 min | 1:49 am CDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | +19 kt | -1 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 48 min | 1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 29 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 54 min | 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 30 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 57 min | 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -19 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 59 min | 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 36 kt | +31 kt | -33 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 18 min | 2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 42 kt | +38 kt | -39 °C | 82 kt | 4 h 40 min | 2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 36 kt | +29 kt | -48 °C | 91 kt | 4 h 13 min | 2:19 am CDT (07:19 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° |
| TRI | used from 98 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 197 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 295 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC) |
| BUY Burlington, NC | 29 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 616 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 59 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 925 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| SVH Statesville, NC | 108 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 967 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 128 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GCY Greeneville, TN | 197 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots, gusting to 14 | 1.5 mi | 400 ft | 1,607 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| MOR Morristown, TN | 226 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,312 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 256 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 986 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| SRB Sparta, TN | 324 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,025 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 599 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,607 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BNA
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RDU, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at BNA 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BNA is before sunrise there (6:50 am CDT (11:50 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, Nashville International.