The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC)

Richmond International to Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International RIC → AZO

473 nautical miles (545 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 309°, about 319° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC). Right now RIC is IFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots; AZO is marginal VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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 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

  • SIGMET E31E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, until 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC). Over the first 0 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120855
    MKCE WST 120855
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 31E
    VALID UNTIL 1055Z
    MD VA DC
    FROM 20NNE DCA-30WSW SBY-RIC-CSN-20NNE DCA
    AREA TS MOV LTL. TOPS TO FL300.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the whole route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 39 to 158 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 109 to 217 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 RIC.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • E145 at 800 ft, 1 nm northwest, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 1 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
    Report
    a routine report filed through RIC
    Where
    1 nm north (340°) of RIC
    Time
    06:07 UTC
    Height
    at 800 ft
    Aircraft
    E145
  • B738 at 33,000 ft, 37 nm southwest, 4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC): -39 °C, wind 350° at 65 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 138 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    EKN UA /OV EKN188027 /TM 0844 /FL330 /TP B738 /TA M39 /WV 35065KT /TB MOD-CONS /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
    Report
    a routine report filed through EKN
    Where
    27 nm south (188°) of EKN
    Time
    08:44 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Temperature
    −39 °C
    Wind
    from 350° at 65 knots
    Turbulence
    mod-cons
    Remarks
    produced by skypath
  • B737 at 39,000 ft, 26 nm southwest, 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC): light chop turbulence. 296 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV APE/TM 0840/FL390/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP 390 NEG 350-330
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over APE
    Time
    08:40 UTC
    Height
    at 39,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop at 39,000 ft no from 35,000 ft to 33,000 ft
  • B738 at 1,700 ft, 13 nm northeast, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 385 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over KTOL
    Time
    06:20 UTC
    Height
    at 1,700 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Sky
    overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent

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 5 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, AGC, CMH, FWA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft320° at 18 kt+17 kt10 °C103 kt4 h 36 min9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC)
6,500 ft330° at 20 kt+18 kt12 °C102 kt4 h 38 min9:43 am EDT (13:43 UTC)
8,500 ft340° at 22 kt+19 kt9 °C101 kt4 h 41 min9:46 am EDT (13:46 UTC)
10,500 ft330° at 23 kt+21 kt5 °C99 kt4 h 47 min9:52 am EDT (13:52 UTC)
12,500 ft320° at 25 kt+24 kt2 °C96 kt4 h 56 min10:01 am EDT (14:01 UTC)
14,500 ft320° at 28 kt+27 kt-2 °C93 kt5 h 05 min10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC)
16,500 ft320° at 31 kt+30 kt-5 °C90 kt5 h 15 min10:20 am EDT (14:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180320° at 33 kt+32 kt-8 °C88 kt5 h 22 min10:27 am EDT (14:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240330° at 35 kt+34 kt-20 °C86 kt5 h 30 min10:35 am EDT (14:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300330° at 42 kt+39 kt-35 °C81 kt5 h 50 min10:55 am EDT (14:55 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340320° at 54 kt+52 kt-42 °C68 kt6 h 57 min12:02 pm EDT (16:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390320° at 50 kt+50 kt-50 °C70 kt6 h 45 min11:50 am EDT (15:50 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RICused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line350/34340/27 12°340/36 8°330/31 3°310/32 -9°320/34 -21°300/37 -34°290/37 -39°290/42 -46°
EKNused from 49 nm out; 72 nm from the line330/20 10°350/29 7°340/32 2°340/44 -8°350/50 -21°350/63 -35°340/69 -40°330/42 -50°
AGCused from 197 nm out; 61 nm from the line340/11350/12 11°360/25 7°340/30 2°340/41 -8°340/44 -21°350/59 -36°340/68 -42°340/50 -51°
CMHused from 247 nm out; 49 nm from the line320/12340/26 15°340/22 9°320/24 3°320/32 -7°320/36 -20°330/42 -35°320/59 -44°320/57 -50°
FWAused from 345 nm out; 72 nm from the line270/20300/16 15°290/14 10°280/17 3°290/25 -7°280/30 -19°280/34 -35°290/48 -44°300/64 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
RIC Richmond, VA departure IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots 5 mi 700 ft 167 ft 4:54 am EDT (08:54 UTC)
LKU Louisa, VA 39 nm out, 5 nm north of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet calm 10+ mi 9,000 ft 493 ft 08:55 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA 69 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet calm 10+ mi 3,000 ft 640 ft 08:53 UTC
CKB Clarksburg, WV 178 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots 8 mi 700 ft 1,223 ft 08:53 UTC
MPG Moundsville, WV 217 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line no report just now 1,214 ft
CDI Cambridge, OH 247 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet calm 10+ mi 2,000 ft 798 ft 08:55 UTC
MFD Mansfield, OH 316 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots 6 mi 500 ft 1,297 ft 08:52 UTC
FZI Fostoria, OH 355 nm out, 5 nm north of the line no report just now 751 ft
TOL Toledo, OH 385 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots 9 mi none 683 ft 08:52 UTC
OEB Coldwater, MI 444 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots 7 mi none 958 ft 08:55 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI destination marginal VFR Weather: mist from the south (180°) at 5 knots 4 mi none 873 ft 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,297 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At AZO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for AZO
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
The forecast for RIC, the departure
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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 RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at AZO 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 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: Richmond International, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International.