Plan a flight · Sun 9:21 pm EDT (01:21 UTC)

Richmond International to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International RIC → MSY

787 nautical miles (905 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 239°, about 249° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27; MSY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 248 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, 80 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 189 to 348 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 319 to 408 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 508 to 667 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

A21N at 33,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 597 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC360030/TM 2251/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
30 nm north (360°) of MVC
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B737 at 26,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 617 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC/TM 2319/FL260/TP B737/TB CONS MOD CHOP 260-280/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
over MVC
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B739 at 32,000 ft, 26 nm southeast, 6:23 pm EDT (22:23 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 677 nm along the route, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOB UA /OV SJI/TM 2223/FL320/TP B739/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOB
Where
over SJI
Time
22:23 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
zhu
BCS3 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 8:06 pm EDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
00:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
bases 600 ft
B763 at 3,000 ft, 5 nm east, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 149 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 6 nm east, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 149 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
CRJ7 descending, 8 nm southeast, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 159 nm along the route, 8 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 209 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
C55B at 3,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 388 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
B752 descending, 4 nm southeast, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 418 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 4 nm southeast, 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 418 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
B737 at 38,000 ft, 7 nm southeast, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 498 nm along the route, 7 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 48 nm northwest, 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. 607 nm along the route, 48 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1770 3230N 08800W 2255 F340 349/061KT TB CONT LGT CHOP CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B739 at 34,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 6:27 pm EDT (22:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 657 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOB UA /OV SJI040025/TM 2227/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOB
Where
25 nm northeast (040°) of SJI
Time
22:27 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zhu

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, RDU, GSP, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB, MSY). 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 16 kt	+8 kt		112 kt	7 h 02 min	3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	+5 kt	13 °C	115 kt	6 h 51 min	3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	+8 kt	11 °C	112 kt	7 h 02 min	3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+12 kt	9 °C	108 kt	7 h 17 min	3:38 am CDT (08:38 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 24 kt	+16 kt	5 °C	104 kt	7 h 34 min	3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 25 kt	+18 kt	1 °C	102 kt	7 h 43 min	4:04 am CDT (09:04 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 25 kt	+19 kt	-3 °C	101 kt	7 h 48 min	4:09 am CDT (09:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 26 kt	+21 kt	-6 °C	99 kt	7 h 57 min	4:18 am CDT (09:18 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 31 kt	+28 kt	-17 °C	92 kt	8 h 33 min	4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 36 kt	+33 kt	-32 °C	87 kt	9 h 03 min	5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 34 kt	+32 kt	-41 °C	88 kt	8 h 57 min	5:18 am CDT (10:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 36 kt	+34 kt	-51 °C	86 kt	9 h 09 min	5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°
RDU	used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°
GSP	used from 199 nm out; 60 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
ATL	used from 348 nm out; 44 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
CSG	used from 448 nm out; 44 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
MGM	used from 498 nm out; 24 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
MOB	used from 597 nm out; 64 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -50°
MSY	used from 747 nm out; 20 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -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: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	4,000 ft	167 ft	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)
BKT Blackstone, VA	40 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	149 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	925 ft	00:54 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	159 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	969 ft	00:54 UTC
GMU Greenville, SC	289 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,048 ft	00:53 UTC
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	388 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	00:56 UTC
ATL Atlanta, GA	418 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	00:52 UTC
MGM Montgomery, AL	548 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	221 ft	00:53 UTC
SEM Selma, AL	568 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37		3,300 ft	166 ft	01:30 UTC
HSA Bay St Louis, MS	737 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	22 ft	23:50 UTC
MSY New Orleans, LA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	3 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSY

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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

6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 408 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSY is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.