Plan a flight · Mon 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport RDU → SPI

568 nautical miles (654 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 298°, about 307° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 11:33 am CDT (16:33 UTC). Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots; SPI is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 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 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 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 20 to 100 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 140 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 159 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 100 to 249 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 120 to 428 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 30,000 ft, 16 nm north, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDU
Where
20 nm north (360°) of RDU
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at F300
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
E170 at 100 ft, 8 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 309 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 8 nm south, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 309 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 3 nm south, 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 309 nm along the route, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 100 ft, 44 nm northeast, 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 339 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
10:24 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
B739 climbing, 44 nm northeast, 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 339 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 west cvg
Time
10:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
tops 1,100 ft
B763 at 100 ft, 44 nm northeast, 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 339 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B763 at 200 ft, 44 nm northeast, 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 339 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
08:05 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft
Remarks
during the climb

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, TRI, CVG, LOU, IND, EVV, SPI). 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 21 kt	+21 kt	11 °C	99 kt	5 h 44 min	11:46 am CDT (16:46 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	+19 kt	13 °C	101 kt	5 h 37 min	11:39 am CDT (16:39 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	+17 kt	9 °C	103 kt	5 h 31 min	11:33 am CDT (16:33 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	+17 kt	7 °C	103 kt	5 h 31 min	11:33 am CDT (16:33 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	+19 kt	3 °C	101 kt	5 h 37 min	11:39 am CDT (16:39 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	+22 kt	0 °C	98 kt	5 h 48 min	11:50 am CDT (16:50 UTC)
16,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	+26 kt	-4 °C	94 kt	6 h 03 min	12:05 pm CDT (17:05 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 30 kt	+28 kt	-7 °C	92 kt	6 h 10 min	12:12 pm CDT (17:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 34 kt	+34 kt	-19 °C	86 kt	6 h 36 min	12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 38 kt	+36 kt	-33 °C	84 kt	6 h 46 min	12:48 pm CDT (17:48 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 50 kt	+47 kt	-41 °C	73 kt	7 h 47 min	1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 51 kt	+49 kt	-50 °C	71 kt	8 h	2:02 pm CDT (19:02 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -47°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
TRI	used from 149 nm out; 48 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
CVG	used from 249 nm out; 77 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
LOU	used from 299 nm out; 38 nm from the line	300/16	310/19 15°	310/17 9°	300/15 4°	300/26 -6°	280/34 -19°	290/30 -34°	310/49 -42°	310/58 -51°
IND	used from 399 nm out; 53 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
EVV	used from 448 nm out; 74 nm from the line	270/25	290/17 15°	260/10 8°	270/16 5°	280/29 -6°	280/33 -19°	290/38 -33°	300/53 -41°	310/54 -51°
SPI	used from 498 nm out; 45 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°

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 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
BUY Burlington, NC	30 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	616 ft	10:54 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	60 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	925 ft	10:54 UTC
MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA	140 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the west (270°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	1,300 ft	2,558 ft	10:55 UTC
PBX Pikeville, KY	209 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	1.75 mi	300 ft	1,464 ft	10:55 UTC
JKL Jackson, KY	239 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	calm	4 mi	300 ft	1,380 ft	10:53 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	309 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	10:54 UTC
LOU Louisville, KY	359 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	none	545 ft	10:56 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN	419 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots	7 mi	none	845 ft	10:53 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	458 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	589 ft	10:53 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	528 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	681 ft	10:54 UTC
SPI Springfield, IL	destination	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	597 ft	5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,558 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SPI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:33 am CDT (16:33 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SPI

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

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

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

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SPI 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.