The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 10:40 pm EDT (02:40 UTC)

Richmond International to San Diego International RIC → SAN

1,964 nautical miles (2,260 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 274°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 2:44 pm PDT (21:44 UTC). 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: 3 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 60 to 219 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120155
    MKCE WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    PA MD VA DC WV OH
    FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST
    AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.
  • SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1286 to 1496 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120155
    MKCW WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    CO NM
    FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • SIGMET 7W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1565 to 1565 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120155
    MKCW WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7W
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    NM AZ
    FROM 30NW SJN-30W TCS-60SE SSO-50SE TUS-70S INW-30NW SJN
    DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
  • SIGMET 9W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1635 to 1745 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120155
    MKCW WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9W
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    AZ
    FROM 20S TBC-30S INW-10E PHX-60SW DRK-30WNW DRK-20S TBC
    DMSHG AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 21020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
  • 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 20 to 359 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 289 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Near the route, 140 nm along the route.
  • 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 route from 967 to 1047 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1256 to 1645 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1296 to 1486 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1376 to 1555 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1635 to 1735 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1655 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1844 to 1944 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 30 nm of the 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

Not fetched just now.

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 17 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, CRW, TRI, LOU, EVV, CGI, SGF, TUL, ICT, GAG, AMA, TCC, ABQ, PRC, BLH, SAN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft240° at 20 kt+20 kt17 °C100 kt19 h 38 min3:18 pm PDT (22:18 UTC)
6,500 ft250° at 18 kt+19 kt14 °C101 kt19 h 27 min3:07 pm PDT (22:07 UTC)
8,500 ft250° at 17 kt+18 kt10 °C102 kt19 h 15 min2:55 pm PDT (21:55 UTC)
10,500 ft250° at 16 kt+17 kt7 °C103 kt19 h 04 min2:44 pm PDT (21:44 UTC)
12,500 ft240° at 17 kt+18 kt3 °C102 kt19 h 15 min2:55 pm PDT (21:55 UTC)
14,500 ft240° at 20 kt+21 kt-1 °C99 kt19 h 50 min3:30 pm PDT (22:30 UTC)
16,500 ft240° at 23 kt+24 kt-4 °C96 kt20 h 28 min4:08 pm PDT (23:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 26 kt+27 kt-8 °C93 kt21 h 07 min4:47 pm PDT (23:47 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240250° at 33 kt+34 kt-19 °C86 kt22 h 50 min6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300250° at 48 kt+51 kt-30 °C69 kt28 h 28 min12:08 am PDT (07:08 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340260° at 53 kt+56 kt-38 °C64 kt30 h 41 min2:21 am PDT (09:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 43 kt+46 kt-48 °C74 kt26 h 32 min10:12 pm PDT (05:12 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RICused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line270/23280/19 11°270/18 8°240/22 4°230/39 -7°220/55 -18°220/75 -30°230/83 -39°230/64 -50°
ROAused from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line310/29330/31 13°340/28 7°330/25 3°310/32 -8°300/32 -22°290/32 -31°270/35 -38°270/32 -47°
CRWused from 199 nm out; 48 nm from the line330/20330/23 11°340/25 8°340/21 2°340/33 -9°340/41 -20°330/42 -35°320/44 -39°320/43 -47°
TRIused from 249 nm out; 78 nm from the line330/22 11°330/29 7°330/32 3°330/36 -8°320/34 -19°320/36 -34°320/43 -39°320/46 -47°
LOUused from 299 nm out; 80 nm from the line310/18340/28 16°340/29 10°350/27 3°330/27 -7°340/39 -19°330/58 -33°330/67 -41°330/40 -49°
EVVused from 449 nm out; 29 nm from the line280/15290/12 17°310/16 10°320/13 5°310/22 -6°320/26 -18°320/38 -33°310/56 -41°320/55 -51°
CGIused from 548 nm out; 21 nm from the line240/20270/15 15°280/15 11°300/13 6°290/20 -6°280/24 -18°300/34 -32°300/47 -41°310/49 -51°
SGFused from 698 nm out; 43 nm from the line230/33230/28 15°250/20 13°240/18 7°250/20 -6°250/24 -17°280/42 -31°280/49 -40°290/46 -51°
TULused from 847 nm out; 53 nm from the line210/37240/29 17°260/15 14°260/11 7°240/22 -6°250/29 -16°270/45 -29°270/47 -40°280/44 -50°
ICTused from 897 nm out; 57 nm from the line200/48230/39 19°240/24 14°240/20 8°240/22 -6°250/31 -18°250/61 -29°260/58 -38°270/54 -49°
GAGused from 997 nm out; 58 nm from the line220/40 19°230/28 14°240/23 8°230/21 -6°240/31 -19°250/66 -29°260/58 -38°260/47 -49°
AMAused from 1147 nm out; 62 nm from the line210/38230/29 14°240/29 7°220/27 -5°240/37 -18°240/66 -28°250/59 -37°260/47 -49°
TCCused from 1196 nm out; 69 nm from the line210/42230/33 14°230/32 6°220/35 -6°230/49 -19°240/72 -27°250/62 -36°250/52 -48°
ABQused from 1346 nm out; 53 nm from the line220/27 11°210/35 5°220/46 -9°230/62 -20°240/78 -25°240/80 -35°240/56 -47°
PRCused from 1545 nm out; 136 nm from the line210/25 5°200/30 1°220/55 -10°220/61 -21°220/84 -28°230/90 -34°230/73 -45°
BLHused from 1745 nm out; 60 nm from the line210/13200/21 11°200/22 5°210/25 -1°210/51 -10°220/61 -20°220/81 -29°220/92 -34°220/79 -45°
SANused from 1894 nm out; 45 nm from the line200/11200/23 7°210/27 4°210/31 -3°220/56 -10°220/56 -19°220/52 -30°220/64 -37°220/67 -44°

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 no report just now 167 ft
LWB Lewisburg, WV 150 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 2,301 ft
LEX Lexington, KY 349 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 979 ft
OWB Owensboro, KY 469 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 407 ft
SGF Springfield, MO 768 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower no report just now 1,268 ft
JLN Joplin, MO 818 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 977 ft
PYX Perryton, TX 1127 nm out, 3 nm east of the line no report just now 2,918 ft
LVS Las Vegas, NM 1346 nm out, 5 nm east of the line no report just now 6,877 ft
SAF Santa Fe, NM 1386 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 6,348 ft
PAN Payson, AZ 1655 nm out, 5 nm south of the line no report just now 5,160 ft
RNM Ramona, CA 1944 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower no report just now 1,394 ft
SAN San Diego, CA destination no report just now 16 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:44 pm PDT (21:44 UTC)

SAN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
  • 6/2652 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 24 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 2 January · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 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, San Diego International.