Raleigh-Durham International to General Mitchell International RDU → MKE
598 nautical miles (688 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 318°, about 327° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20; MKE is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 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: 7 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 20 to 150 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 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). Over the route from 100 to 528 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
- MD83 climbing, 19 nm northeast, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 309 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 3 nm west, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 449 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
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 6 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, CRW, CMH, FWA, MKG). 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 | 310° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 100 kt | 5 h 59 min | 6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 13 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 02 min | 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 10 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 02 min | 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 6 °C | 101 kt | 5 h 55 min | 6:50 am CDT (11:50 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 2 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 52 min | 6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -2 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 06 min | 7:01 am CDT (12:01 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | +26 kt | -5 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 22 min | 7:17 am CDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -8 °C | 92 kt | 6 h 30 min | 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -20 °C | 86 kt | 6 h 57 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 41 kt | +41 kt | -35 °C | 79 kt | 7 h 34 min | 8:29 am CDT (13:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 49 kt | +49 kt | -41 °C | 71 kt | 8 h 25 min | 9:20 am CDT (14:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 47 kt | +47 kt | -49 °C | 73 kt | 8 h 12 min | 9:07 am CDT (14:07 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; 32 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 150 nm out; 27 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° |
| CMH | used from 249 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| FWA | used from 349 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| MKG | used from 499 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
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 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 435 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC) |
| DAN Danville, VA | 50 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 571 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 100 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 1,175 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 140 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 199 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 500 ft | 947 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| JRO Jackson, OH | 259 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | variable at 2 knots | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 726 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| TZR Columbus, OH | 319 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 800 ft | 904 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| AXV Wapakoneta, OH | 379 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 912 ft | 05:44 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 429 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | none | 814 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 489 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 777 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 578 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 728 ft | 12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKE
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MKE is before sunrise there (7:01 am CDT (12:01 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, General Mitchell International.