Plan a flight · Mon 11:19 am EDT (15:19 UTC)

Richmond International to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International RIC → BHM

518 nautical miles (596 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 246°, about 256° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25; BHM is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 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: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 398 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Near the route, 199 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 209 nm along 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 RIC.

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

urgent C680 descending, 3 nm southwest, 9:32 am EDT (13:32 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot gain of airspeed knots during the descent runway 35 avl. 279 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AVL UUA /OV AVL/TM 1332/FLDURD/TP C680/RM LLWS +10 KT DURD RY35 AVL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through AVL
Where
over AVL
Time
13:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C680
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 10-knot gain of airspeed knots during the descent runway 35 avl
BE58 at 8,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 10:10 am EDT (14:10 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 259 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AVL UA /OV SUG020010/TM 1410/FL080/TP BE58/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through AVL
Where
10 nm north (020°) of SUG
Time
14:10 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
BE58
Turbulence
moderate chop
C68A at 43,000 ft, 39 nm east, 11:16 am EDT (15:16 UTC): -57 °C, wind 320° at 55 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 39 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JGG UA /OV HCM119010 /TM 1516 /FL430 /TP C68A /TA M57 /WV 32055KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through JGG
Where
10 nm southeast (119°) of HCM
Time
15:16 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C68A
Temperature
−57 °C
Wind
from 320° at 55 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
C56X at 1,100 ft, 45 nm southeast, 8:48 am EDT (12:48 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the departure end, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1248/FL011/TP C56X/SK OVC011/RM OVC011 DURD RWY25 KPHF
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHF
Where
over KPHF
Time
12:48 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
B739 at 33,000 ft, 25 nm south, 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 33. 149 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GSO/TM 1300/FL330/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 33
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over GSO
Time
13:00 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 33
BE33 at 7,000 ft, 8 nm south, 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 209 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM/TM 1253/FL070/TP BE33/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 45
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over BZM
Time
12:53 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
BE33
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 45
E145 at 2,000 ft, 50 nm southeast, 10:35 am EDT (14:35 UTC): sandstorm. 219 nm along the route, 50 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT 183 003/TM 1435/FL020/TP E145/WV 10 KT LOSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
clt at 18,300 ft at 300 ft
Time
14:35 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Wind
10 knots loss
C750 at 43,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 15. 239 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV HMV170030/TM 1314/FL430/TP C750/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 15
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
30 nm south (170°) of HMV
Time
13:14 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 15
C210 at 7,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 9:31 am EDT (13:31 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 249 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV SUG040025/TM 1331/FL070/TP C210/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 45
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm northeast (040°) of SUG
Time
13:31 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
C210
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ztlfd 45
B739 at 34,000 ft, 37 nm southeast, 10:05 am EDT (14:05 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: ztlfd 34. 269 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV SPA/TM 1405/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD 34
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over SPA
Time
14:05 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ztlfd 34
A320 at 31,000 ft, 37 nm southeast, 9:01 am EDT (13:01 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 34. 269 nm along the route, 37 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV SPA/TM 1301/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 34
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over SPA
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 34
H25B at 5,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC): overcast above 5,000 ft, remarks: bases 5,000 ft during the descent runway 35 avl. 279 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AVL UA /OV AVL/TM 1338/FL050/TP H25B/SK OVC050/RM BASES 050 DURD RY 35 AVL
```
Report
a routine report filed through AVL
Where
over AVL
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
H25B
Sky
overcast from 5,000 ft
Remarks
bases 5,000 ft during the descent runway 35 avl
BE36 at 5,600 ft, 4 nm northwest, 8:58 am EDT (12:58 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 279 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AVL UA /OV AVL347005/TM 1258/FL056/TP BE36/SK TOPS-056
```
Report
a routine report filed through AVL
Where
5 nm north (347°) of AVL
Time
12:58 UTC
Height
at 5,600 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Sky
TOPS-056
CRJ9 at 3,800 ft, 6 nm southeast, 8:28 am EDT (12:28 UTC): a broken layer above 3,800 ft. 279 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AVL UA /OV AVL137005/TM 1228/FL038/TP CRJ9/SK BKN038
```
Report
a routine report filed through AVL
Where
5 nm southeast (137°) of AVL
Time
12:28 UTC
Height
at 3,800 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 3,800 ft

10 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, GSP, TYS, ATL, BHM). 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	340° at 18 kt	−1 kt	15 °C	121 kt	4 h 17 min	2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC)
6,500 ft	340° at 20 kt	−3 kt	15 °C	123 kt	4 h 13 min	2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC)
8,500 ft	340° at 19 kt	−1 kt	11 °C	121 kt	4 h 17 min	2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	+1 kt	8 °C	119 kt	4 h 21 min	2:40 pm CDT (19:40 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 22 kt	+3 kt	5 °C	117 kt	4 h 26 min	2:45 pm CDT (19:45 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	+5 kt	1 °C	115 kt	4 h 30 min	2:49 pm CDT (19:49 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 24 kt	+8 kt	-3 °C	112 kt	4 h 38 min	2:57 pm CDT (19:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 25 kt	+9 kt	-6 °C	111 kt	4 h 40 min	2:59 pm CDT (19:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 28 kt	+12 kt	-19 °C	108 kt	4 h 48 min	3:07 pm CDT (20:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 35 kt	+13 kt	-33 °C	107 kt	4 h 50 min	3:09 pm CDT (20:09 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 45 kt	+13 kt	-41 °C	107 kt	4 h 50 min	3:09 pm CDT (20:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 37 kt	+7 kt	-50 °C	113 kt	4 h 35 min	2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	350/24	350/28 14°	340/25 8°	340/26 5°	340/40 -6°	340/44 -19°	340/48 -33°	330/45 -42°	310/38 -50°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line	310/18	350/22 15°	350/21 9°	340/24 6°	320/31 -6°	310/34 -19°	310/39 -35°	310/46 -42°	310/33 -49°
TRI	used from 199 nm out; 56 nm from the line		340/26 15°	330/23 10°	330/23 6°	290/28 -6°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -34°	310/47 -41°	320/47 -49°
GSP	used from 249 nm out; 38 nm from the line	330/14	360/26 17°	360/22 11°	330/20 6°	310/27 -5°	320/24 -18°	310/28 -33°	320/38 -40°	330/30 -51°
TYS	used from 299 nm out; 53 nm from the line	320/8	330/17 16°	320/17 9°	310/24 6°	290/23 -6°	290/28 -19°	300/36 -33°	310/48 -40°	320/46 -50°
ATL	used from 398 nm out; 54 nm from the line	340/24	350/18 17°	330/15 11°	320/20 6°	310/16 -4°	300/18 -18°	320/28 -32°	330/43 -40°	340/35 -51°
BHM	used from 448 nm out; 45 nm from the line	310/11	310/13 16°	310/18 11°	300/17 6°	300/14 -5°	300/20 -17°	320/35 -30°	320/43 -40°	340/38 -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
RIC Richmond, VA	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet	from the north (350°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	4,500 ft	167 ft	10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC)
BKT Blackstone, VA	40 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
CXE Chase City, VA	70 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	503 ft	14:55 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	149 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	925 ft	14:54 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	159 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	969 ft	14:54 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	219 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	14:53 UTC
AVL Asheville, NC	279 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet	from the north (350°) at 16 knots, gusting to 30	10+ mi	none	2,163 ft	14:54 UTC
DZJ Blairsville, GA	358 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,906 ft	14:55 UTC
CZL Calhoun, GA	408 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	marginal VFR Weather: haze	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	4 mi	none	655 ft	15:15 UTC
RMG Rome, GA	428 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	reported, no category	from the south (190°) at 4 knots		200 ft	644 ft	14:53 UTC
GAD Gadsden, AL	478 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	569 ft	15:56 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	650 ft	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BHM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for BHM

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for RIC, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind calm, 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 BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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 lower 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: Richmond International, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International.