Richmond International to Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport RIC → CHO
66 nautical miles (76 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 306°, about 316° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 12:37 pm EDT (16:37 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind variable at 5 knots; CHO 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: 9 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
Turbulence No turbulence warning in force along the route. A pilot reported smooth air, at 5,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC). The government's turbulence forecast map ↗
Icing No icing warning in force along the route. No pilot has reported icing near the line in the last three hours. The freezing level is about 14,500 ft (from the winds-aloft temperatures), so icing is possible in cloud above that. The government's icing forecast map ↗
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
- LEG2 at 5,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 5,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 350° at 17 knots. 38 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RMN UA /OV KRMN315005 /TM 1357 /FL050 /TP LEG2 /SK SKC /WX FV99SM /WV 35017KT /TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through RMN
- Where
- 5 nm northwest (315°) of KRMN
- Time
- 13:57 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LEG2
- Sky
- clear
- Weather
- flight visibility 99 miles
- Wind
- from 350° at 17 knots
- Turbulence
- none
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 1 forecast point nearest it (RIC). 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 | 260° at 11 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 35 min | 12:37 pm EDT (16:37 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | +13 kt | 13 °C | 107 kt | 37 min | 12:39 pm EDT (16:39 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 11 °C | 101 kt | 39 min | 12:41 pm EDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 8 °C | 105 kt | 38 min | 12:40 pm EDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 12 kt | +10 kt | 5 °C | 110 kt | 36 min | 12:38 pm EDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | +14 kt | 0 °C | 106 kt | 37 min | 12:39 pm EDT (16:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +17 kt | -5 °C | 103 kt | 38 min | 12:40 pm EDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 20 kt | +20 kt | -9 °C | 100 kt | 40 min | 12:42 pm EDT (16:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -21 °C | 98 kt | 40 min | 12:42 pm EDT (16:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 41 kt | +37 kt | -32 °C | 83 kt | 48 min | 12:50 pm EDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 340° at 55 kt | +45 kt | -40 °C | 75 kt | 53 min | 12:55 pm EDT (16:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 51 kt | +46 kt | -48 °C | 74 kt | 54 min | 12:56 pm EDT (16:56 UTC) |
Based on data from the 13th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 13th 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; 24 nm from the line | 230/12 | 280/13 14° | 300/21 10° | 340/11 6° | 310/20 -9° | 290/23 -21° | 330/41 -32° | 340/55 -40° | 330/51 -48° |
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 25,000 feet | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 167 ft | 11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC) |
| LKU Louisa, VA | 47 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 493 ft | 15:55 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 640 ft | 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 640 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
The codes as issued, and in English, for every airport in the table
RIC Richmond, VA
the observation and the forecast as issued, and in English
METAR KRIC 131554Z VRB05KT 10SM FEW250 26/17 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02610172
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KRIC
- the station, KRIC
- 131554Z
- observed 11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC)
- VRB05KT
- wind light and variable
- 10SM
- visibility 10 miles
- FEW250
- a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- 26/17
- temperature 26 °C (79 °F), dew point 17 °C (63 °F)
- A3004
- altimeter setting 30.04 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- SLP176
- sea-level pressure 1017.6 hPa
- T02610172
- temperature 26.1 °C (79 °F), dew point 17.2 °C (63 °F)
TAF KRIC 131120Z 1312/1412 VRB03KT P6SM FEW250 TEMPO 1312/1313 2SM BR FM131500 20008KT P6SM SKC
- TAF
- a terminal aerodrome forecast: the weather expected at the airport, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours
- KRIC
- the station, KRIC
- 131120Z
- issued 7:20 am EDT (11:20 UTC)
- 1312/1412 VRB03KT P6SM FEW250
- valid from Tue 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) to Wed 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- TEMPO 1312/1313 2SM BR
- at times from Tue 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) to Tue 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- FM131500 20008KT P6SM SKC
- from Tue 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
LKU Louisa, VA
the observation as issued, and in English
METAR KLKU 131555Z AUTO 19005KT 10SM CLR 26/16 A3004 RMK AO2 T02580164
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KLKU
- the station, KLKU
- 131555Z
- observed 15:55 UTC on the 13th
- AUTO
- fully automated report, nobody checked it
- 19005KT
- wind from the south at 5 knots
- 10SM
- visibility 10 miles
- CLR
- clear skies
- 26/16
- temperature 26 °C (79 °F), dew point 16 °C (61 °F)
- A3004
- altimeter setting 30.04 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- T02580164
- temperature 25.8 °C (78 °F), dew point 16.4 °C (62 °F)
CHO Charlottesville, VA
the observation and the forecast as issued, and in English
METAR KCHO 131553Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/16 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP162 T02670161 $
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KCHO
- the station, KCHO
- 131553Z
- observed 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC)
- 00000KT
- wind calm
- 10SM
- visibility 10 miles
- CLR
- clear skies
- 27/16
- temperature 27 °C (81 °F), dew point 16 °C (61 °F)
- A3003
- altimeter setting 30.03 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- SLP162
- sea-level pressure 1016.2 hPa
- T02670161
- temperature 26.7 °C (80 °F), dew point 16.1 °C (61 °F)
- $
- the station needs maintenance
TAF KCHO 131122Z 1312/1412 00000KT P6SM SKC FM131400 20003KT P6SM SKC FM132100 20006G14KT P6SM FEW250 FM140400 21003KT P6SM FEW120
- TAF
- a terminal aerodrome forecast: the weather expected at the airport, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours
- KCHO
- the station, KCHO
- 131122Z
- issued 7:22 am EDT (11:22 UTC)
- 1312/1412 00000KT P6SM SKC
- valid from Tue 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) to Wed 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- FM131400 20003KT P6SM SKC
- from Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- FM132100 20006G14KT P6SM FEW250
- from Tue 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, gusting to 14, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- FM140400 21003KT P6SM FEW120
- from Wed 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
At CHO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:37 pm EDT (16:37 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CHO
- From Tue 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, gusting to 14, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Wed 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for RIC, the departure
- From Tue 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Tue 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Tue 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
CHO: the forecast as issued, and in English
TAF KCHO 131122Z 1312/1412 00000KT P6SM SKC FM131400 20003KT P6SM SKC FM132100 20006G14KT P6SM FEW250 FM140400 21003KT P6SM FEW120
RIC: the forecast as issued, and in English
TAF KRIC 131120Z 1312/1412 VRB03KT P6SM FEW250 TEMPO 1312/1313 2SM BR FM131500 20008KT P6SM SKC
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Notices to air missions closures and things out of service at both ends; airspace, navigation aids and obstructions near the line
RIC: 22 notices in force. all of them, grouped →
- closed Taxiway U3, taxiway E between taxiway L and runway 02/20 closed until Mon 26 Oct, 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC) · RIC 10/036
as issued
!RIC 10/036 RIC TWY U3, TWY E BTN TWY L AND RWY 02/20 CLSD 2610121708-2610262100
- closed Runway 02/20 closed except TAX between taxiway C and taxiway N and crossing taxiways U1, U4, H until Mon 26 Oct, 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC) · RIC 10/035
as issued
!RIC 10/035 RIC RWY 02/20 CLSD EXC TAX BTN TWY C AND TWY N AND XNG TWYS U1, U4, H 2610121659-2610262100
- closed Taxiway A between taxiway A2 and taxiway A4 closed to aircraft wingspan more than 125 ft until Thu 31 Dec, 4:00 pm EST (21:00 UTC) · RIC 08/154
as issued
!RIC 08/154 RIC TWY A BTN TWY A2 AND TWY A4 CLSD TO ACFT WINGSPAN MORE THAN 125FT 2608311945-2612312100
- closed Taxiway E between runway 02/20 and taxiway A closed barricaded until Thu 31 Dec, 4:00 pm EST (21:00 UTC) · RIC 08/150
as issued
!RIC 08/150 RIC TWY E BTN RWY 02/20 AND TWY A CLSD BARRICADED 2608300520-2612312100
CHO: 2 notices in force. all of them, grouped →
14 notices near the line (airspace and special activity within 25 nm, navigation aids within 25 nm, obstructions within 5 nm):
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1023982) 37°26′N 77°08′W (4.3 nautical miles south W96) 360.9FT (231.0FT above ground level) out of service until Fri 6 Nov, 7:00 am EST (12:00 UTC) · 0 nm along the route, 10 nm off the line · W96 10/120
as issued
!DCA 10/120 W96 OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1023982) 372603.00N0770827.30W (4.3NM S W96) 360.9FT (231.0FT AGL) U/S 2610060900-2611061200
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1035929) 37°25′N 77°12′W (6.2 nautical miles southwest W96) 631.9FT (500.0FT above ground level) out of service until Fri 20 Nov, 6:59 pm EST (23:59 UTC) · 0 nm along the route, 7 nm off the line · W96 08/496
as issued
!DCA 08/496 W96 OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1035929) 372545.00N0771256.00W (6.2NM SW W96) 631.9FT (500.0FT AGL) U/S 2608201714-2611202359
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1026628) 37°36′N 77°30′W (6.8 nautical miles southwest OFP) 1,002 ft (746 ft above ground level) out of service until Thu 19 Nov, 5:34 pm EST (22:34 UTC), estimated · 9 nm along the route, 2 nm off the line · OFP 10/003
as issued
!OFP 10/003 OFP OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1026628) 373652.00N0773055.20W (6.8NM SW OFP) 1002FT (746FT AGL) U/S 2610051634-2611192234EST
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1026628) 37°36′N 77°30′W (6.9 nautical miles SSW OFP) 1005.9FT (749.0FT above ground level) out of service until Mon 9 Nov, 2:30 am EST (07:30 UTC) · 9 nm along the route, 2 nm off the line · OFP 09/010
as issued
!OFP 09/010 OFP OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1026628) 373653.00N0773055.00W (6.9NM SSW OFP) 1005.9FT (749.0FT AGL) U/S 2609250730-2611090730
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1026433) 37°30′N 77°39′W (8.9 nautical miles northwest FCI) 793.0FT (422.9FT above ground level) out of service until Sat 31 Oct, 10:22 am EDT (14:22 UTC) · 9 nm along the route, 10 nm off the line · FCI 08/020
as issued
!DCA 08/020 FCI OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1026433) 373038.20N0773933.80W (8.9NM NW FCI) 793.0FT (422.9FT AGL) U/S 2608021422-2610311422
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1048869) 37°46′N 77°32′W (6.5 nautical miles northwest OFP) 546.6FT (319.9FT above ground level) out of service until Fri 30 Oct, 7:59 pm EDT (23:59 UTC) · 19 nm along the route, 8 nm off the line · OFP 09/014
as issued
!OFP 09/014 OFP OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1048869) 374656.80N0773221.40W (6.5NM NW OFP) 546.6FT (319.9FT AGL) U/S 2609301652-2610302359
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1237524) 37°46′N 77°53′W (13.3 nautical miles SSW 7W4) 521.0FT (210.0FT above ground level) out of service until Sun 8 Nov, 5:57 pm EST (22:57 UTC) · 28 nm along the route, 4 nm off the line · 7W4 08/255
as issued
!DCA 08/255 7W4 OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1237524) 374637.60N0775306.00W (13.3NM SSW 7W4) 521.0FT (210.0FT AGL) U/S 2608102157-2611082257
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1054567) 37°53′N 78°02′W (7.4 nautical miles southwest LKU) 772 ft (300 ft above ground level) out of service until Thu 19 Nov, 4:16 pm EST (21:16 UTC), estimated · 38 nm along the route, 4 nm off the line · LKU 10/004
as issued
!LKU 10/004 LKU OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1054567) 375353.00N0780204.00W (7.4NM SW LKU) 772FT (300FT AGL) U/S 2610051517-2611192116EST
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1054567) 37°53′N 78°02′W (7.5 nautical miles SSW LKU) 772.0FT (299.9FT above ground level) out of service until Sat 14 Nov, 3:05 pm EST (20:05 UTC) · 38 nm along the route, 4 nm off the line · LKU 09/004
as issued
!LKU 09/004 LKU OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1054567) 375353.00N0780204.00W (7.5NM SSW LKU) 772.0FT (299.9FT AGL) U/S 2609302006-2611142005
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1278256) 38°02′N 78°14′W (7.7 nautical miles SSW GVE) 751.6FT (254.9FT above ground level) out of service until Wed 14 Oct, 11:58 pm EDT (03:58 UTC) · 56 nm along the route, 3 nm off the line · GVE 09/830
as issued
!DCA 09/830 GVE OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1278256) 380232.50N0781411.40W (7.7NM SSW GVE) 751.6FT (254.9FT AGL) U/S 2609300458-2610150358
- Navigation aid ILS runway 05 outer marker out of service until Tue 29 Feb 2028, 4:11 pm EST (21:11 UTC), estimated · 66 nm along the route, 22 nm off the line · SHD 07/006
as issued
!SHD 07/006 SHD NAV ILS RWY 05 OM U/S 2607151740-2802292111EST
- Navigation aid VOR not monitor until Thu 22 Oct, 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC) · 0 nm along the route, 29 nm off the line · HCM 10/305
as issued
!DCA 10/305 HCM NAV VOR NOT MNT 2610130132-2610222000
- Airspace parachute jumping within an area defined as 3 nautical miles radius of OMH the surface-15,000 ft above ground level daily SR-0300 until Sat 31 Oct, 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC) · Daily:SR-0300~DLY SR-0300 · 56 nm along the route, 17 nm off the line · OMH 09/004
as issued
!OMH 09/004 OMH AIRSPACE PJE WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF OMH SFC-15000FT AGL DLY SR-0300 2609301324-2611010300
- Airspace SEE flight data center 5/7224 ZDC security Instructions until further notice · 56 nm along the route, 17 nm off the line · OMH 09/001
as issued
!OMH 09/001 OMH AIRSPACE SEE FDC 5/7224 ZDC SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS 2509041633-PERM
From the FAA's notice service (NOTAMs), the site's copy refreshed every few minutes; last checked a minute ago. The FAA has so far issued eFlight its test feed, which misses some notices (checked against the FAA's own search on 12 October: about a third missing at Santa Barbara and Burbank, none at Atlanta or Las Vegas); the request for the full feed is with the FAA. Times are local to the field. This is for planning; the legal briefing comes from Flight Service or the FAA's own tools.
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:35 pm EDT (22:35 UTC), at CHO 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times.
The wind over the route live wind map, from Windy.com · drag the time bar for the coming hours; the level menu changes the height
Colours show wind speed, the moving lines its direction, at the surface unless you pick a height. Map and forecast by Windy.com; a second opinion beside the government's winds-aloft table above.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads · the turbulence and icing forecasts: turbulence ↗ · icing ↗
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, Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.