Richmond International to Nashville International RIC → BNA
457 nautical miles (526 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIC is IFR, wind from the west (280°) at 8 knots; BNA is VFR, wind calm. 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: 950 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 209 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 109 to 358 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 219 to 229 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
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 5 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, TYS, BNA). 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 | 320° at 22 kt | +11 kt | 11 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 12 min | 6:17 am CDT (11:17 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +8 kt | 12 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 05 min | 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +8 kt | 9 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 05 min | 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +8 kt | 6 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 05 min | 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | +10 kt | 3 °C | 110 kt | 4 h 09 min | 6:14 am CDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | +12 kt | -1 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 14 min | 6:19 am CDT (11:19 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 28 kt | +15 kt | -4 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 21 min | 6:26 am CDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 29 kt | +17 kt | -7 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 26 min | 6:31 am CDT (11:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 29 kt | +19 kt | -20 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 31 min | 6:36 am CDT (11:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 34 kt | +24 kt | -32 °C | 96 kt | 4 h 46 min | 6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 39 kt | +31 kt | -39 °C | 89 kt | 5 h 08 min | 7:13 am CDT (12:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 34 kt | +25 kt | -48 °C | 95 kt | 4 h 49 min | 6:54 am CDT (11:54 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 199 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 298 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 398 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -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 | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 167 ft | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC) |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 30 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 89 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 129 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 1,175 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| PSK Dublin, VA | 159 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the west-northwest (300°) at 15 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 2,104 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA | 199 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the west (260°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16 | 7 mi | 900 ft | 2,558 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 248 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RVN Rogersville, TN | 278 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,254 ft | ||||
| SCX Oneida, TN | 358 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 300 ft | 1,544 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SRB Sparta, TN | 408 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,025 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| XNX Gallatin, TN | 437 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 583 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | destination | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 599 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 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 BNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC)
Wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BNA
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at BNA 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BNA is before sunrise there (6:50 am CDT (11:50 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: Richmond International, Nashville International.