Richmond International to Wilmington International RIC → ILM
196 nautical miles (226 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 188°, about 198° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots; ILM is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 8 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
- SIGMET E38E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the northwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 121155 MKCE WST 121155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 38E VALID UNTIL 1355Z NJ DE MD VA AND CSTL WTRS FROM 50WNW SIE-20E SIE-30NNE ORF-20NE RIC-50WNW SIE AREA TS MOV FROM 33020KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 29 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 10 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 RIC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 4,000 ft, 6 nm west, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: TOPS048. At the departure end, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC270006/TM 1103/FL040/TP A320/SK BKN040/RM TOPS048
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 6 nm west (270°) of RIC
- Time
- 11:03 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- TOPS048
- BE36 at 2,000 ft, 2 nm west, 8:18 am EDT (12:18 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,000 ft; overcast above 3,500 ft. 10 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC210010/TM 1218/FL020/TP BE36/SK SCT010 OVC035
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 10 nm southwest (210°) of RIC
- Time
- 12:18 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Sky
- SCT010 OVC035
- PC12 at 1,000 ft, 43 nm east, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. 20 nm along the route, 43 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1042/FL010/TP PC12/SK OVC010/RM OVC010 DURD RWY25 KPHF
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHF
- Where
- over KPHF
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
- B752 at 30,000 ft, 27 nm west, 7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC): light chop turbulence above 30,000 ft. 98 nm along the route, 27 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU090030/TM 1131/FLF300/TP B752/TB CONS LGT CHOP 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 30 nm east (090°) of RDU
- Time
- 11:31 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 30,000 ft
- H25B descending, 5 nm south, 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 186 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 1209/FLDURD/TP H25B/SK TOPS 009 BASES 006 SCT
- Report
- a routine report filed through ILM
- Where
- over ILM
- Time
- 12:09 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- H25B
- Sky
- tops 900 ft bases 600 ft scattered
- CL30 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm south, 7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ILM UA /OV KILM/TM 1107/FL010/TP CL30/SK BKN006
- Report
- a routine report filed through ILM
- Where
- over KILM
- Time
- 11:07 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL30
- Sky
- a broken layer from 600 ft
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 3 forecast points nearest it (RIC, RDU, ILM). 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 | 330° at 25 kt | −20 kt | 140 kt | 1 h 24 min | 10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 25 min | 10:07 am EDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −20 kt | 8 °C | 140 kt | 1 h 24 min | 10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −19 kt | 5 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 25 min | 10:07 am EDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | −18 kt | 2 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 25 min | 10:07 am EDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 31 kt | −18 kt | -2 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 25 min | 10:07 am EDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 33 kt | −19 kt | -5 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 25 min | 10:07 am EDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 35 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 1 h 24 min | 10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 31 kt | −12 kt | -20 °C | 132 kt | 1 h 29 min | 10:11 am EDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 35 kt | −4 kt | -33 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 35 min | 10:17 am EDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 35 kt | −5 kt | -39 °C | 125 kt | 1 h 34 min | 10:16 am EDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 38 kt | −12 kt | -48 °C | 132 kt | 1 h 29 min | 10:11 am EDT (14:11 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
| 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 | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| RDU | used from 49 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
| ILM | used from 147 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 300/18 | 300/22 13° | 300/21 8° | 290/28 4° | 280/38 -7° | 270/40 -18° | 250/49 -32° | 250/50 -40° | 270/33 -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: overcast at 3,900 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 167 ft | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) |
| EMV Emporia, VA | 49 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,900 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 126 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| ETC Tarboro, NC | 98 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,200 feet | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 52 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| ISO Kinston, NC | 128 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 92 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| OAJ Jacksonville, NC | 157 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 92 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| ILM Wilmington, NC | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 8:37 am EDT (12:37 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 167 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ILM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ILM
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 3 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 ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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: Richmond International, Wilmington International.