Raleigh-Durham International to Sarasota/Bradenton International RDU → SRQ
544 nautical miles (626 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 202°, about 211° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20; SRQ is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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: 142 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. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
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
- A321 at 35,000 ft, 37 nm southeast, 12:26 am EDT (04:26 UTC): light chop turbulence. 455 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 0426/FL350/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORL
- Where
- over ORL
- Time
- 04:26 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
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 6 forecast points nearest it (RDU, FLO, CHS, SAV, JAX, PIE). 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 | 290° at 15 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 4 h 32 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | −1 kt | 14 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 30 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | 0 | 12 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 32 min | 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | +3 kt | 9 °C | 117 kt | 4 h 39 min | 6:49 am EDT (10:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 25 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 49 min | 6:59 am EDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 27 kt | +12 kt | 1 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 02 min | 7:12 am EDT (11:12 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 31 kt | +16 kt | -2 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 14 min | 7:24 am EDT (11:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 33 kt | +20 kt | -6 °C | 100 kt | 5 h 26 min | 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 39 kt | +25 kt | -17 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 44 min | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 51 kt | +44 kt | -31 °C | 76 kt | 7 h 09 min | 9:19 am EDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 61 kt | +56 kt | -40 °C | 64 kt | 8 h 30 min | 10:40 am EDT (14:40 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 53 kt | +47 kt | -51 °C | 73 kt | 7 h 27 min | 9:37 am EDT (13:37 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; 38 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° |
| CHS | used from 148 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -52° |
| SAV | used from 247 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| JAX | used from 297 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -52° |
| PIE | used from 445 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -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) |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 49 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MEB Maxton, NC | 69 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 215 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 109 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CHS Charleston, SC | 188 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| HXD Hilton Head Island, SC | 238 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 19 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| SSI St Simons Island, GA | 307 nm out, 21 nm west of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 18 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| SGJ St Augustine, FL | 376 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| OCF Ocala, FL | 435 nm out, 20 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 90 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| LEE Leesburg, FL | 445 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 76 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SPG St Petersburg, FL | 525 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SRQ Sarasota/Bradenton, FL | destination | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 435 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SRQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC)
Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SRQ
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, 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
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC on the route, 69 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 356 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, 366 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SRQ 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SRQ is before sunrise there (7:28 am EDT (11:28 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, Sarasota/Bradenton International.