Raleigh-Durham International to Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International RDU → ROC
438 nautical miles (504 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 006°, about 015° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 22-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; ROC is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 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: 574 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
- SIGMET E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 159 to 259 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120255 MKCE WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E VALID UNTIL 0455Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 50 nm along the route.
- 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 90 to 408 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 308 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 159 to 398 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 20,000 ft, 22 nm east, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 199 nm along the route, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
- B752 at 30,000 ft, 10 nm east, 10:26 pm EDT (02:26 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. 269 nm along the route, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
HGR UA /OV THS010020/TM 0226/FL300/TP B752/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through HGR
- Where
- 20 nm north (010°) of THS
- Time
- 02:26 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- zob
- UAL1558 at 30,000 ft, 20 nm east, 10:22 pm EDT (02:22 UTC): moderate turbulence, -36 °C, wind 240° at 50 knots. 269 nm along the route, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1558 4014N 07742W 0222 F300 MS36 240/050KT TB MODERATE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- E75S at 22,000 ft, 32 nm west, 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zob. 269 nm along the route, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
JST UA /OV JST/TM 0251/FL220/TP E75S/TB LGHT-MOD/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JST
- Where
- over JST
- Time
- 02:51 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Turbulence
- lght-mod
- Remarks
- zob
- B738 at 4,700 ft, 36 nm west, 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC): a broken layer from 4,700 ft to 5,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. 418 nm along the route, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF140010/TM 0059/FL047/TP B738/SK BKN 047 TOPS 053/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (140°) of BUF
- Time
- 00:59 UTC
- Height
- at 4,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,700 ft, tops 5,300 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (RDU, RIC, EKN, PSB, BUF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 3 h 45 min | 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 14 kt | +10 kt | 13 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 59 min | 3:36 am EDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | +10 kt | 10 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 59 min | 3:36 am EDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +8 kt | 6 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 55 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | +5 kt | 4 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 49 min | 3:26 am EDT (07:26 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | +3 kt | 0 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 45 min | 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | +1 kt | -4 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 41 min | 3:18 am EDT (07:18 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −1 kt | -8 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 37 min | 3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 19 kt | −1 kt | -9 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 37 min | 3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 29 kt | −15 kt | -21 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 15 min | 2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 33 kt | −14 kt | -34 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 16 min | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 44 kt | −22 kt | -40 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 05 min | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 44 kt | −20 kt | -49 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 08 min | 2:45 am EDT (06:45 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° |
| RIC | used from 50 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| EKN | used from 149 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| PSB | used from 199 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| BUF | used from 348 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -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) |
| HNZ Oxford, NC | 30 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,100 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 526 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| CXE Chase City, VA | 60 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 503 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| FVX Farmville, VA | 90 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 415 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 139 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist | variable at 3 knots | 4 mi | 1,500 ft | 640 ft | 03:32 UTC |
| FRR Front Royal, VA | 189 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: rain | calm | 5 mi | 300 ft | 703 ft | 03:35 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 219 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | 500 ft | 564 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| UNV State College, PA | 299 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | 300 ft | 1,231 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| FIG Clearfield, PA | 308 nm out, 18 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 1,516 ft | 03:11 UTC |
| ELZ Wellsville, NY | 378 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,124 ft | 03:05 UTC |
| DSV Dansville, NY | 408 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,800 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 659 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| ROC Rochester, NY | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 558 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,124 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ROC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ROC
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,000 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at ROC 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ROC is before sunrise there (7:20 am EDT (11:20 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, Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International.