The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 9:14 pm EDT (01:14 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Seattle-Tacoma International RDU → SEA

2,041 nautical miles (2,349 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 313° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:06 am PDT (18:06 UTC). Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 11 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: 1,810 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 SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 239 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 159 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 119 to 299 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1095 to 1773 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1235 to 1782 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1444 to 1842 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 1484 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 1703 to 1922 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

  • E75L at 14,000 ft, 16 nm south, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 1703 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MSO UA /OV 32S/TM 2322/FL140/TP E75L/TB MOD 140-210/RM DURC /ZLC
    Report
    a routine report filed through MSO
    Where
    over 32S
    Time
    23:22 UTC
    Height
    at 14,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E75L
    Turbulence
    moderate from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb zlc
  • B763 at 3,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. At the departure end, 13 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
    Report
    a routine report filed through GSO
    Where
    heved
    Time
    23:26 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B763
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,000 ft
  • B763 descending, 14 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. At the departure end, 14 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
    Report
    a routine report filed through GSO
    Where
    10 northeast gso
    Time
    23:24 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    B763
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,000 ft
  • CRJ7 descending, 24 nm southwest, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. At the departure end, 24 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
    Report
    a routine report filed through GSO
    Where
    over GSO
    Time
    22:32 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    a broken layer from 4,500 ft
  • E145 at 4,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 100 nm along the route, 40 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 RY06 KROA
  • E145 at 2,200 ft, 40 nm northeast, 8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 100 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
    Report
    a routine report filed through ROA
    Where
    over ROA
    Time
    00:03 UTC
    Height
    at 2,200 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
    Sky
    overcast from 2,200 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb RY06 KROA
  • C52C at 12,500 ft, 12 nm north, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 110 nm along the route, 12 nm north 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
  • PC24 at 4,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 110 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
    Report
    a routine report filed through CLT
    Where
    90 nm north (005°) of CLT
    Time
    23:00 UTC
    Height
    at 4,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PC24
    Weather
    fi s
    Turbulence
    smooth
    Remarks
    18 final
  • CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 159 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast 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
  • E135 descending, 35 nm northeast, 8:05 pm EDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 159 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
    Report
    a routine report filed through CRW
    Where
    over BKW
    Time
    00:05 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    E135
    Sky
    bases 3,200 ft
  • P28A climbing, 34 nm northeast, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions. 249 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    HTS UA /OV DWU/TM 2315/FLDURC/TP P28A/TB SMOOTH/RM IMC
    Report
    a routine report filed through HTS
    Where
    over DWU
    Time
    23:15 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    P28A
    Turbulence
    smooth
    Remarks
    instrument conditions
  • CRJ9 at 28,000 ft, 10 nm northeast, 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC): light turbulence. 289 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    IND UA /OV FGX/TM 2233/FL280/TP CRJ9/TB LGT
    Report
    a routine report filed through IND
    Where
    over FGX
    Time
    22:33 UTC
    Height
    at 28,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Turbulence
    light
  • B712 at 600 ft, 38 nm southwest, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 309 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
    Report
    a routine report filed through LEX
    Where
    over KLEX
    Time
    01:06 UTC
    Height
    at 600 ft
    Aircraft
    B712
    Sky
    overcast B006
  • CRJ9 descending, 38 nm southwest, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 309 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
    Report
    a routine report filed through LEX
    Where
    over LEX
    Time
    23:43 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Sky
    tops OVC062 bases OVC018

14 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 21 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, CRW, CVG, IND, SPI, BRL, DSM, MCW, FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, GTF, DLN, GPI, LWS, GEG, YKM, SEA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ftlight and variable−1 kt9 °C121 kt16 h 52 min11:06 am PDT (18:06 UTC)
6,500 ft310° at 3 kt+2 kt10 °C118 kt17 h 18 min11:32 am PDT (18:32 UTC)
8,500 ft280° at 4 kt+3 kt7 °C117 kt17 h 27 min11:41 am PDT (18:41 UTC)
10,500 ft250° at 6 kt+5 kt3 °C115 kt17 h 45 min11:59 am PDT (18:59 UTC)
12,500 ft250° at 9 kt+6 kt0 °C114 kt17 h 54 min12:08 pm PDT (19:08 UTC)
14,500 ft250° at 11 kt+8 kt-4 °C112 kt18 h 13 min12:27 pm PDT (19:27 UTC)
16,500 ft250° at 14 kt+10 kt-8 °C110 kt18 h 33 min12:47 pm PDT (19:47 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180250° at 16 kt+12 kt-11 °C108 kt18 h 54 min1:08 pm PDT (20:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240250° at 22 kt+17 kt-22 °C103 kt19 h 49 min2:03 pm PDT (21:03 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300240° at 30 kt+21 kt-35 °C99 kt20 h 37 min2:51 pm PDT (21:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 39 kt+30 kt-41 °C90 kt22 h 41 min4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 45 kt+39 kt-48 °C81 kt25 h 12 min7:26 pm PDT (02:26 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 line240/28250/22 10°230/30 11°230/40 7°230/45 -4°220/69 -15°220/83 -29°210/84 -40°220/75 -52°
ROAused from 50 nm out; 46 nm from the line280/9290/15 12°290/11 8°210/6 3°210/30 -6°220/46 -19°210/74 -30°220/78 -39°220/64 -48°
CRWused from 149 nm out; 57 nm from the line320/16310/16 12°320/12 7°320/12 2°330/15 -11°280/11 -22°230/26 -30°240/33 -37°240/37 -47°
CVGused from 249 nm out; 66 nm from the line350/13340/20 13°340/22 8°350/30 3°340/30 -9°340/38 -21°330/37 -35°320/38 -40°310/35 -47°
INDused from 398 nm out; 12 nm from the line320/10350/30 16°350/32 10°350/30 4°340/31 -10°340/42 -21°340/49 -37°320/46 -41°320/47 -47°
SPIused from 498 nm out; 69 nm from the line210/13260/11 17°270/18 10°290/21 4°310/20 -8°330/25 -19°320/49 -34°320/60 -44°320/59 -50°
BRLused from 597 nm out; 43 nm from the line200/20250/21 16°240/22 10°260/20 5°270/16 -7°290/22 -18°320/41 -34°320/56 -43°310/68 -53°
DSMused from 697 nm out; 66 nm from the line200/32240/27 17°260/19 10°260/16 5°260/19 -7°240/22 -19°270/20 -32°270/38 -42°290/58 -53°
MCWused from 797 nm out; 58 nm from the line200/35240/33 18°250/20 10°260/10 6°270/18 -8°260/28 -19°280/30 -34°290/49 -43°280/70 -54°
FSDused from 846 nm out; 77 nm from the line200/16220/20 17°240/26 13°230/19 6°240/25 -9°240/28 -20°250/39 -33°250/44 -43°260/63 -52°
PIRused from 1046 nm out; 37 nm from the lineL/V 17°230/13 12°220/22 6°250/31 -9°250/34 -21°240/50 -35°230/61 -43°240/62 -51°
RAPused from 1195 nm out; 49 nm from the line120/15 12°180/22 11°220/26 5°230/35 -9°240/40 -22°240/50 -37°240/51 -41°240/47 -47°
MLSused from 1295 nm out; 73 nm from the line120/22 5°170/18 4°200/33 1°230/49 -10°230/58 -21°220/54 -37°230/64 -44°250/74 -49°
BILused from 1394 nm out; 48 nm from the line080/24130/14 -1°180/33 0°210/43 -10°220/58 -21°200/55 -36°220/75 -44°240/83 -48°
GTFused from 1543 nm out; 70 nm from the line070/21080/18 -6°120/5 -5°180/30 -14°200/53 -24°210/80 -38°220/83 -44°230/68 -46°
DLNused from 1643 nm out; 90 nm from the line080/10 -3°180/8 -3°180/23 -14°200/58 -22°200/80 -36°220/85 -41°230/81 -45°
GPIused from 1693 nm out; 90 nm from the line060/19 -3°110/11 -8°130/6 -8°200/40 -19°190/58 -28°200/101 -39°220/73 -43°230/41 -43°
LWSused from 1743 nm out; 67 nm from the line010/5050/14 -2°040/12 -6°160/7 -10°190/30 -22°200/54 -27°200/48 -35°210/40 -37°230/32 -41°
GEGused from 1842 nm out; 34 nm from the line050/18 -2°060/19 -8°L/V -11°160/11 -24°190/17 -31°200/19 -35°220/14 -37°250/11 -41°
YKMused from 1892 nm out; 67 nm from the line030/16020/18 0°030/30 -8°030/23 -13°020/40 -23°010/73 -29°010/54 -36°360/29 -37°330/16 -40°
SEAused from 1992 nm out; 25 nm from the line360/9350/10 1°010/10 -5°030/20 -11°020/60 -17°010/86 -26°360/90 -40°010/68 -42°360/31 -43°

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: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 435 ft 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)
GSO Greensboro, NC 50 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots 10+ mi 6,000 ft 925 ft 00:54 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN 398 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 656 ft 00:45 UTC
BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL 548 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 871 ft 00:56 UTC
MLI Moline, IL 637 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 589 ft 00:52 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD 946 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 1,430 ft 00:56 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD 1105 nm out, 8 nm north of the line marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet from the east-northeast (070°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 1,100 ft 1,744 ft 00:53 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD 1255 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line no report just now 3,190 ft
HLN Helena, MT 1613 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots 1 mi 1,200 ft 3,877 ft 01:01 UTC
MSO Missoula, MT 1703 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain from the north (010°) at 4 knots 7 mi 2,400 ft 3,205 ft 01:10 UTC
MWH Moses Lake, WA 1922 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet from the northeast (050°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 10+ mi 10,000 ft 1,188 ft 00:52 UTC
SEA Seattle, WA destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet from the north (350°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 432 ft 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:06 am PDT (18:06 UTC)

Wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SEA
  • From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
  • From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
  • From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, 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 9 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 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 central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.