Richmond International to Jacksonville International RIC → JAX
474 nautical miles (545 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 209°, about 219° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots; JAX is VFR, wind from the west (260°) 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: 138 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
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
- E170 at 15,500 ft, 13 nm southeast, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 13 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAX UA /OV CRG/TM 0200/FL155/TP E170/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAX
- Where
- over CRG
- Time
- 02:00 UTC
- Height
- at 15,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- PC12 at 16,000 ft, 16 nm west, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 16,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the destination end, 16 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
AYS UA /OV AYS150060/TM 0055/FL160/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through AYS
- Where
- 60 nm southeast (150°) of AYS
- Time
- 00:55 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
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 6 forecast points nearest it (RIC, RDU, FLO, CHS, SAV, JAX). 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 | 290° at 22 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 4 h 05 min | 3:31 am EDT (07:31 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | +2 kt | 12 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 01 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 24 kt | +2 kt | 10 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 01 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 26 kt | +7 kt | 7 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 12 min | 3:38 am EDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 29 kt | +12 kt | 4 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 23 min | 3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 32 kt | +18 kt | 0 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 39 min | 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 36 kt | +23 kt | -3 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 53 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 38 kt | +26 kt | -6 °C | 94 kt | 5 h 03 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 45 kt | +36 kt | -17 °C | 84 kt | 5 h 39 min | 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 60 kt | +55 kt | -31 °C | 65 kt | 7 h 18 min | 6:44 am EDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 74 kt | +69 kt | -40 °C | 51 kt | 9 h 18 min | 8:44 am EDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 59 kt | +53 kt | -51 °C | 67 kt | 7 h 04 min | 6:30 am EDT (10:30 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° |
| RDU | used from 49 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| FLO | used from 197 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| CHS | used from 247 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -52° |
| SAV | used from 345 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| JAX | used from 444 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC Richmond, VA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 167 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 39 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| LVL Lawrenceville, VA | 49 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 328 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | 118 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 168 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 227 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| CKI Kingstree, SC | 257 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 66 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| CHS Charleston, SC | 306 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| HXD Hilton Head Island, SC | 355 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 19 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BQK Brunswick, GA | 424 nm out, 10 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| SSI St Simons Island, GA | 434 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 18 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| JAX Jacksonville, FL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet | from the west (260°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 437 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for JAX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RIC, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 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 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 24 nm from the route, 178 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 187 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at JAX 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at JAX is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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, Jacksonville International.