The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to South Bend International RDU → SBN

496 nautical miles (571 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 317°, about 326° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; SBN is VFR, wind calm. 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: 22 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 50 to 139 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 69 to 228 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 109 to 377 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

  • A320 at 34,000 ft, 19 nm northeast, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 397 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through FWA
    Where
    40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
    Time
    02:03 UTC
    Height
    at 34,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    moderate chop
  • E145 at 4,000 ft, 16 nm northeast, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 109 nm along the route, 16 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROA
    Where
    over ROA
    Time
    00:36 UTC
    Height
    at 4,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
    Sky
    overcast from 4,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb runway 06 KROA
  • C52C at 12,500 ft, 14 nm southwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 109 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROA
    Where
    30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
    Time
    00:34 UTC
    Height
    at 12,500 ft
    Aircraft
    C52C
    Sky
    overcast, tops 12,500 ft
    Temperature
    +1
    Icing
    none
  • CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 3 nm west, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 159 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through IND
    Where
    over BKW
    Time
    00:23 UTC
    Height
    at 15,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Turbulence
    none
  • CRJ9 climbing, 7 nm northeast, 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 199 nm along the route, 7 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
    Report
    a routine report filed through CRW
    Where
    over CRW
    Time
    00:15 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Sky
    bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
  • BCS3 climbing, 33 nm northeast, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 318 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over CMH
    Time
    02:27 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    BCS3
    Sky
    B010
  • BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 318 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over CMH
    Time
    00:27 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    BCS3
    Sky
    T037
  • CRJ9 descending, 15 nm southwest, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 357 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
    Report
    a routine report filed through DAY
    Where
    over DAY
    Time
    01:15 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Sky
    T031 B005
  • A321 at 21,000 ft, 9 nm east, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 367 nm along the route, 9 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through IND
    Where
    over ROD
    Time
    00:23 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A321
    Turbulence
    none

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 5 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, CRW, CMH, FWA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft320° at 21 kt+21 kt99 kt5 h 01 min4:07 am EDT (08:07 UTC)
6,500 ft330° at 23 kt+23 kt12 °C97 kt5 h 07 min4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC)
8,500 ft330° at 24 kt+22 kt9 °C98 kt5 h 04 min4:10 am EDT (08:10 UTC)
10,500 ft330° at 22 kt+21 kt6 °C99 kt5 h 01 min4:07 am EDT (08:07 UTC)
12,500 ft330° at 21 kt+20 kt2 °C100 kt4 h 58 min4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC)
14,500 ft320° at 24 kt+23 kt-2 °C97 kt5 h 07 min4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC)
16,500 ft320° at 27 kt+27 kt-5 °C93 kt5 h 20 min4:26 am EDT (08:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180320° at 29 kt+29 kt-8 °C91 kt5 h 27 min4:33 am EDT (08:33 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240320° at 35 kt+35 kt-20 °C85 kt5 h 50 min4:56 am EDT (08:56 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300320° at 40 kt+40 kt-34 °C80 kt6 h 12 min5:18 am EDT (09:18 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340310° at 47 kt+46 kt-41 °C74 kt6 h 42 min5:48 am EDT (09:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390320° at 42 kt+41 kt-48 °C79 kt6 h 17 min5:23 am EDT (09:23 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RDUused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line280/33300/23 11°300/28 8°290/28 4°260/41 -6°240/52 -18°230/66 -31°230/76 -39°240/52 -49°
ROAused from 50 nm out; 33 nm from the line310/29330/31 13°340/28 7°330/25 3°310/32 -8°300/32 -22°290/32 -31°270/35 -38°270/32 -47°
CRWused from 149 nm out; 28 nm from the line330/20330/23 11°340/25 8°340/21 2°340/33 -9°340/41 -20°330/42 -35°320/44 -39°320/43 -47°
CMHused from 248 nm out; 51 nm from the line330/15340/22 14°340/24 9°340/23 4°340/35 -9°340/49 -20°340/58 -37°330/70 -42°340/55 -47°
FWAused from 347 nm out; 57 nm from the line300/17320/20 16°330/20 10°340/15 3°310/27 -8°320/37 -20°330/52 -36°330/65 -43°330/60 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
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)
TDF Roxboro, NC 20 nm out, 11 nm north of the line VFR Sky: overcast at 4,400 feet from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots 10+ mi 4,400 ft 608 ft 02:55 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA 99 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 2,900 ft 1,175 ft 02:54 UTC
BCB Blacksburg, VA 109 nm out, 3 nm west of the line marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet calm 10+ mi 1,800 ft 2,119 ft 02:55 UTC
BKW Beckley, WV 159 nm out, 3 nm west of the line low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots 8 mi 300 ft 2,503 ft 02:51 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV 199 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist variable at 4 knots 1 mi 700 ft 947 ft 02:54 UTC
JRO Jackson, OH 258 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots 7 mi 600 ft 726 ft 02:55 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH 318 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots 6 mi 900 ft 1,076 ft 02:54 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH 357 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots 8 mi 1,200 ft 1,009 ft 02:56 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN 427 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet from the south (170°) at 3 knots 8 mi none 814 ft 02:54 UTC
ASW Warsaw, IN 467 nm out, 6 nm south of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 849 ft 02:55 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN destination VFR calm 10+ mi none 798 ft 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,503 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SBN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SBN
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
  • From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SBN is before sunrise there (7:53 am EDT (11:53 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

Radar now, the Southeast
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, South Bend International.