Richmond International to Philadelphia International RIC → PHL
172 nautical miles (198 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 034°, about 044° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 88-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIC is IFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots; PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 11 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: 4,106 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 E25E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 4:55 am EDT (08:55 UTC). Over the last 29 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120655 MKCE WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 25E VALID UNTIL 0855Z RI NY NJ PA DE MD AND MA RI NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS FROM 30SSE PVD-60SSE ACK-110SSE HTO-40N SBY-30SSW ETX-30SSE PVD AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the whole 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
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- 20 northwest phl
- Time
- 06:38 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- overcast from 19,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- 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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 2 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ACY). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 1 h 16 min | 4:50 am EDT (08:50 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 1 h 18 min | 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 1 h 15 min | 4:49 am EDT (08:49 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 7 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 13 min | 4:47 am EDT (08:47 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 5 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 11 min | 4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −29 kt | 1 °C | 149 kt | 1 h 09 min | 4:43 am EDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | −32 kt | -2 °C | 152 kt | 1 h 08 min | 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | −36 kt | -6 °C | 156 kt | 1 h 06 min | 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -7 °C | 157 kt | 1 h 06 min | 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 52 kt | −50 kt | -19 °C | 170 kt | 1 h 01 min | 4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 82 kt | −81 kt | -30 °C | 201 kt | 51 min | 4:25 am EDT (08:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 92 kt | −88 kt | -39 °C | 208 kt | 50 min | 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 72 kt | −69 kt | -50 °C | 189 kt | 55 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 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; 24 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° |
| ACY | used from 96 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -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 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 4 mi | 800 ft | 167 ft | 3:20 am EDT (07:20 UTC) |
| XSA Tappahannock, VA | 29 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | 500 ft | 135 ft | 07:35 UTC | |
| CGE Cambridge, MD | 86 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 19 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| ESN Easton, MD | 96 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 300 ft | 72 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 153 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots | 3 mi | 1,200 ft | 79 ft | 07:16 UTC |
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 35 ft | 3:17 am EDT (07:17 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 PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads) IFR
The whole forecast for PHL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 21 nm from the route, 77 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8719 Greenwood, DE, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 115 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8886 Greenwood, DE, Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 115 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Sunday 18 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHL is before sunrise there (7:07 am EDT (11:07 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, Philadelphia International.