Raleigh-Durham International to Trenton Mercer Airport RDU → TTN
324 nautical miles (373 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 034°, about 043° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 87-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20; TTN is IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) 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: 2 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: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 304 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 20 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 last 226 nm of the route.
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
- A319 at 23,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 11:21 pm EDT (03:21 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 22 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MJX UA /OV CYN345010/TM 0321/FL230/TP A319/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through MJX
- Where
- 10 nm north (345°) of CYN
- Time
- 03:21 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- moderate
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 3 forecast points nearest it (RDU, RIC, ACY). 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 | 260° at 20 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 2 h 24 min | 4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 2 h 27 min | 4:38 am EDT (08:38 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 24 min | 4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −20 kt | 7 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 19 min | 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 5 °C | 143 kt | 2 h 16 min | 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 2 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 12 min | 4:23 am EDT (08:23 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −31 kt | -2 °C | 151 kt | 2 h 09 min | 4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | −35 kt | -6 °C | 155 kt | 2 h 05 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | −36 kt | -7 °C | 156 kt | 2 h 05 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | −50 kt | -19 °C | 170 kt | 1 h 54 min | 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 79 kt | −79 kt | -31 °C | 199 kt | 1 h 38 min | 3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 90 kt | −87 kt | -39 °C | 207 kt | 1 h 34 min | 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 69 kt | −66 kt | -50 °C | 186 kt | 1 h 45 min | 3:56 am EDT (07:56 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 49 nm out; 47 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° |
| ACY | used from 196 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -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 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) |
| HNZ Oxford, NC | 29 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,700 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 526 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 79 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 118 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (260°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 167 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| XSA Tappahannock, VA | 147 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | reported, no category | calm | 700 ft | 135 ft | 05:55 UTC | |
| ESN Easton, MD | 216 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 200 ft | 72 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 275 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 8 mi | 800 ft | 79 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | 295 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light thunderstorms rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots | 5 mi | 700 ft | 35 ft | 06:04 UTC |
| TTN Trenton, NJ | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 212 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 526 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TTN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC)
Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for TTN
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 20 nm from the route, 196 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8719 Greenwood, DE, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 236 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8886 Greenwood, DE, Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 236 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Sunday 18 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at TTN 6:24 pm EDT (22:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TTN is before sunrise there (7:06 am EDT (11:06 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, Trenton Mercer Airport.