Raleigh-Durham International to Quad Cities International RDU → MLI
642 nautical miles (739 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 305°, about 314° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 6:33 am CDT (11:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20; MLI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 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: 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 route from 20 to 148 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 79 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 89 to 227 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 99 to 465 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
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 524 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
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 7 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, CRW, CVG, IND, JOT, BRL). 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 | 6 h 25 min | 6:44 am CDT (11:44 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 13 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 29 min | 6:48 am CDT (11:48 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 25 min | 6:44 am CDT (11:44 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 6 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 18 min | 6:37 am CDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 2 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 14 min | 6:33 am CDT (11:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | +20 kt | -1 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 25 min | 6:44 am CDT (11:44 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | +23 kt | -4 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 37 min | 6:56 am CDT (11:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 26 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 50 min | 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 31 kt | +30 kt | -20 °C | 90 kt | 7 h 08 min | 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | +35 kt | -34 °C | 85 kt | 7 h 33 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 47 kt | +47 kt | -41 °C | 73 kt | 8 h 48 min | 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -49 °C | 77 kt | 8 h 20 min | 8:39 am CDT (13:39 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 49 nm out; 45 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 148 nm out; 54 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 247 nm out; 67 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 395 nm out; 4 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 494 nm out; 63 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° |
| BRL | used from 593 nm out; 57 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° |
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 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC) |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 49 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 925 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| MTV Martinsville, VA | 79 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,600 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 948 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| BLF Bluefield, WV | 148 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (280°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,856 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 237 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 828 ft | 04:58 UTC |
| FGX Flemingsburg, KY | 287 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 913 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 336 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 896 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 425 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 474 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 605 ft | 05:12 UTC |
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 553 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 583 nm out, 25 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,856 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MLI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:33 am CDT (11:33 UTC)
Wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MLI
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 336 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MLI is before sunrise there (7:10 am CDT (12:10 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, Quad Cities International.