Raleigh-Durham International to Pensacola International RDU → PNS
532 nautical miles (612 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 235°, about 244° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20; PNS is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 3 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: 215 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 118 to 148 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RDU, FLO, CAE, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB). 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 | 0 | 120 kt | 4 h 26 min | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | −4 kt | 14 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 17 min | 5:44 am CDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 15 min | 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | 0 | 8 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 26 min | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | +5 kt | 6 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 38 min | 6:05 am CDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | +9 kt | 1 °C | 111 kt | 4 h 48 min | 6:15 am CDT (11:15 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 27 kt | +13 kt | -3 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 58 min | 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 29 kt | +16 kt | -7 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 07 min | 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 33 kt | +23 kt | -18 °C | 97 kt | 5 h 29 min | 6:56 am CDT (11:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 35 kt | +16 kt | -32 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 07 min | 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 35 kt | +20 kt | -41 °C | 100 kt | 5 h 19 min | 6:46 am CDT (11:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 31 kt | +17 kt | -49 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 10 min | 6:37 am CDT (11:37 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° |
| FLO | used from 49 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| CAE | used from 99 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
| ATL | used from 246 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| CSG | used from 296 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| MGM | used from 443 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| MOB | used from 493 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 330/5 | 330/6 19° | 340/6 11° | 330/10 7° | 320/16 -5° | 310/26 -16° | 340/40 -32° | 340/47 -42° | 350/51 -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 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) |
| TTA Sanford, NC | 20 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 246 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 69 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 609 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| LKR Lancaster, SC | 118 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 485 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| EOE Newberry, SC | 167 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 570 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| HQU Thomson, GA | 236 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 501 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 305 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CSG Columbus, GA | 365 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 397 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| EUF Eufaula, AL | 394 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 285 ft | 05:58 UTC |
| DHN Dothan, AL | 433 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 400 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL | 502 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| PNS Pensacola, FL | destination | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 120 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 609 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PNS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PNS
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, 325 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PNS is before sunrise there (6:48 am CDT (11:48 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, Pensacola International.