The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 8:18 am EDT (12:18 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 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 2:58 pm CDT (19:58 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots; RST is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 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 return flight

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 70 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 170 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 60 to 150 nm out.
  • 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 90 to 449 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 100 to 220 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, at the destination 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

  • A321 at 32,000 ft, 31 nm southwest, 5:48 am EDT (09:48 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 200 nm along the route, 31 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CRW UA /OV HVQ045040/TM 0948/FL320/TP A321/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through CRW
    Where
    40 nm northeast (045°) of HVQ
    Time
    09:48 UTC
    Height
    at 32,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A321
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate chop
  • 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
  • PC12 at 1,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the departure end, 45 nm southeast 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
  • CRJ9 at 26,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC): light chop turbulence above 26,000 ft. 160 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV EKN/TM 1150/FL260/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 260
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over EKN
    Time
    11:50 UTC
    Height
    at 26,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ9
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop at 26,000 ft
  • C25A at 36,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 170 nm along the route, 44 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CRW UA /OV HVQ088045/TM 1154/FL360/TP C25A/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through CRW
    Where
    45 nm east (088°) of HVQ
    Time
    11:54 UTC
    Height
    at 36,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C25A
    Turbulence
    continuous light occasional moderate chop
  • SR22 , 12 nm southwest, 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC): no icing. 220 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PKB UA /OV PKB/TM 1030/FL000/TP SR22/SK TOP 045 BASE 004/IC NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through PKB
    Where
    over PKB
    Time
    10:30 UTC
    Height
    at 0 ft
    Aircraft
    SR22
    Sky
    top 4,500 ft base 400 ft
    Icing
    none
  • C25A at 3,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 8:05 am EDT (12:05 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 3,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 260 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ZZV UA /OV ZZV/TM 1205/FL030/TP C25A/SK SKC/TB NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through ZZV
    Where
    over ZZV
    Time
    12:05 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C25A
    Sky
    clear
    Turbulence
    none
  • C25A at 5,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 5,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 260 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ZZV UA /OV ZZV/TM 1156/FL050/TP C25A/SK SKC/TB NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through ZZV
    Where
    over ZZV
    Time
    11:56 UTC
    Height
    at 5,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C25A
    Sky
    clear
    Turbulence
    none
  • E75L at 21,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC): clear from 21,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 260 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ZZV UA /OV ZZV/TM 1023/FL210/TP E75L/SK SKC
    Report
    a routine report filed through ZZV
    Where
    over ZZV
    Time
    10:23 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E75L
    Sky
    clear
  • E75L at 3,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 8:07 am EDT (12:07 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 1207/FL030/TP E75L/SK B012 T028
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over CMH
    Time
    12:07 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E75L
    Sky
    B012 T028
  • A320 at 3,500 ft, 12 nm southwest, 8:04 am EDT (12:04 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 300 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 1204/FL035/TP A320/SK T024/RM DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over CMH
    Time
    12:04 UTC
    Height
    at 3,500 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    T024
    Remarks
    during the climb
  • A21N at 800 ft, 12 nm southwest, 7:56 am EDT (11:56 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 1156/FL008/TP A21N/SK B008
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over CMH
    Time
    11:56 UTC
    Height
    at 800 ft
    Aircraft
    A21N
    Sky
    B008
  • E170 at 6,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 300 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 1000/FL060/TP E170/SK B008-TOP031/RM DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over CMH
    Time
    10:00 UTC
    Height
    at 6,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Sky
    B008-TOP031
    Remarks
    during the climb
  • C550 at 1,500 ft, 12 nm southwest, 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC): overcast above 1,600 ft, remarks: during the descent. 310 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CMH UA /OV OSU/TM 1125/FL015/TP C550/SK OVC016/RM DURD
    Report
    a routine report filed through CMH
    Where
    over OSU
    Time
    11:25 UTC
    Height
    at 1,500 ft
    Aircraft
    C550
    Sky
    overcast from 1,600 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent

12 more routine reports are on the map.

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 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, FWA, JOT, DBQ, LSE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft290° at 17 kt+17 kt10 °C103 kt7 h 40 min2:58 pm CDT (19:58 UTC)
6,500 ft300° at 17 kt+17 kt13 °C103 kt7 h 40 min2:58 pm CDT (19:58 UTC)
8,500 ft300° at 16 kt+17 kt10 °C103 kt7 h 40 min2:58 pm CDT (19:58 UTC)
10,500 ft300° at 19 kt+19 kt6 °C101 kt7 h 49 min3:07 pm CDT (20:07 UTC)
12,500 ft300° at 22 kt+22 kt2 °C98 kt8 h 03 min3:21 pm CDT (20:21 UTC)
14,500 ft300° at 24 kt+25 kt-1 °C95 kt8 h 18 min3:36 pm CDT (20:36 UTC)
16,500 ft310° at 27 kt+27 kt-5 °C93 kt8 h 29 min3:47 pm CDT (20:47 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180310° at 28 kt+29 kt-8 °C91 kt8 h 40 min3:58 pm CDT (20:58 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240310° at 32 kt+33 kt-20 °C87 kt9 h 04 min4:22 pm CDT (21:22 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300310° at 36 kt+37 kt-35 °C83 kt9 h 30 min4:48 pm CDT (21:48 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340310° at 49 kt+50 kt-42 °C70 kt11 h 16 min6:34 pm CDT (23:34 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390300° at 54 kt+54 kt-50 °C66 kt11 h 57 min7:15 pm CDT (00:15 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RICused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line350/34340/27 12°340/36 8°330/31 3°310/32 -9°320/34 -21°300/37 -34°290/37 -39°290/42 -46°
EKNused from 50 nm out; 71 nm from the line330/20 10°350/29 7°340/32 2°340/44 -8°350/50 -21°350/63 -35°340/69 -40°330/42 -50°
CRWused from 200 nm out; 70 nm from the line320/17340/23 12°340/32 8°340/35 4°330/40 -7°340/45 -20°340/57 -34°340/64 -42°320/38 -50°
CMHused from 250 nm out; 29 nm from the line320/12340/26 15°340/22 9°320/24 3°320/32 -7°320/36 -20°330/42 -35°320/59 -44°320/57 -50°
FWAused from 350 nm out; 48 nm from the line270/20300/16 15°290/14 10°280/17 3°290/25 -7°280/30 -19°280/34 -35°290/48 -44°300/64 -52°
JOTused from 499 nm out; 57 nm from the line250/25260/22 14°250/17 9°270/21 5°280/28 -8°280/36 -20°270/41 -35°280/57 -42°290/65 -50°
DBQused from 599 nm out; 75 nm from the line250/27260/23 17°240/26 10°260/30 4°280/26 -9°280/36 -21°270/41 -36°280/52 -41°290/67 -48°
LSEused from 699 nm out; 26 nm from the line250/25240/21 17°240/28 11°250/28 5°280/24 -10°280/31 -21°260/35 -37°270/45 -43°280/59 -47°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
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)
CHO Charlottesville, VA 70 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet calm 10+ mi none 640 ft 11:53 UTC
VBW Bridgewater, VA 90 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,700 feet from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 3,700 ft 1,165 ft 12:15 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV 220 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet Weather: mist from the west (260°) at 4 knots 2 mi 1,000 ft 858 ft 12:09 UTC
CMH Columbus, OH 300 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 900 ft 815 ft 12:02 UTC
DLZ Delaware, OH 320 nm out, 3 nm south of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet from the west-southwest (250°) at 2 knots 9 mi 500 ft 945 ft 11:55 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN 469 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower VFR calm 9 mi none 777 ft 12:15 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN 489 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower VFR calm 9 mi none 798 ft 11:54 UTC
JVL Janesville, WI 619 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet from the south (190°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 20,000 ft 807 ft 11:45 UTC
MSN Madison, WI 649 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 24,000 feet from the south (190°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 24,000 ft 886 ft 11:53 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI 739 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots 10+ mi none 655 ft 11:53 UTC
RST Rochester, MN destination VFR from the south (180°) at 10 knots 8 mi none 1,317 ft 6:54 am CDT (11:54 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, 2:58 pm CDT (19:58 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RST
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
  • From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
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 RST 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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.