Plan a flight · Sun 10:59 pm EDT (02:59 UTC)

Richmond International to Rochester International RIC → RST

789 nautical miles (908 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 314° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 5:21 am CDT (10:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots; RST is VFR, wind from the south (190°) 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: 2 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). Over the route from 10 to 379 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 180 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 220 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

B38M at 29,000 ft, 42 nm northeast, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 190 nm along the route, 42 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through MPG
Where
30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
Time
00:55 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
Remarks
zob
A320 at 34,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 379 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
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
E170 at 500 ft, 5 nm east, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 70 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
over CHO
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 220 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over JPU
Time
00:58 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
BCS3 climbing, 12 nm southwest, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 300 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
B010
BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 300 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
00:27 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
T037
CRJ9 descending, 48 nm southwest, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 350 nm along the route, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
A321 at 21,000 ft, 24 nm south, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 360 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
P28A descending, 43 nm northeast, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): a broken layer from 2,200 ft to 2,500 ft. 369 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV 1G0/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK BKN022 TOPS025
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over 1G0
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
a broken layer from 2,200 ft, tops 2,500 ft
B38M at 31,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 469 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
B39M at 35,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 529 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 10 nm northeast, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 529 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
E295 at 37,000 ft, 36 nm north, 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. 599 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop

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 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, FWA, JOT, DBQ, LSE). 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 17 kt	+17 kt	12 °C	103 kt	7 h 40 min	5:39 am CDT (10:39 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	+18 kt	13 °C	102 kt	7 h 44 min	5:43 am CDT (10:43 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	+16 kt	10 °C	104 kt	7 h 35 min	5:34 am CDT (10:34 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	+14 kt	6 °C	106 kt	7 h 27 min	5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	+13 kt	3 °C	107 kt	7 h 22 min	5:21 am CDT (10:21 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	+16 kt	-1 °C	104 kt	7 h 35 min	5:34 am CDT (10:34 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	+20 kt	-5 °C	100 kt	7 h 53 min	5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 22 kt	+22 kt	-8 °C	98 kt	8 h 03 min	6:02 am CDT (11:02 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 27 kt	+27 kt	-20 °C	93 kt	8 h 29 min	6:28 am CDT (11:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 33 kt	+33 kt	-35 °C	87 kt	9 h 04 min	7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 43 kt	+43 kt	-42 °C	77 kt	10 h 15 min	8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 47 kt	+47 kt	-50 °C	73 kt	10 h 48 min	8:47 am CDT (13:47 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°
EKN	used from 50 nm out; 71 nm from the line		330/21 12°	330/25 7°	350/22 2°	330/24 -10°	310/27 -21°	320/33 -35°	290/31 -39°	290/34 -47°
CRW	used from 200 nm out; 70 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
CMH	used from 250 nm out; 29 nm from the line	330/15	340/22 14°	340/24 9°	340/23 4°	340/35 -9°	340/49 -20°	340/58 -37°	330/70 -42°	340/55 -47°
FWA	used from 350 nm out; 48 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
JOT	used from 499 nm out; 57 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
DBQ	used from 599 nm out; 75 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
LSE	used from 699 nm out; 26 nm from the line	230/40	240/24 17°	240/13 10°	250/13 6°	280/22 -9°	250/28 -21°	250/41 -34°	260/42 -44°	270/62 -53°

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)
CHO Charlottesville, VA	70 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist	calm	1.5 mi	200 ft	640 ft	02:53 UTC
VBW Bridgewater, VA	90 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet	calm	7 mi	800 ft	1,165 ft	02:55 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	220 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	858 ft	02:53 UTC
CMH Columbus, OH	300 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,700 ft	815 ft	02:51 UTC
DLZ Delaware, OH	320 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots	4 mi	1,300 ft	945 ft	02:55 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	469 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Weather: mist	calm	2.5 mi	none	777 ft	02:55 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	489 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	02:54 UTC
JVL Janesville, WI	619 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	807 ft	02:35 UTC
MSN Madison, WI	649 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	02:53 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	739 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	02:53 UTC
RST Rochester, MN	destination	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RST when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:21 am CDT (10:21 UTC)

Wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RST

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at RST 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RST is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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, Rochester International.