Richmond International to John Wayne/Orange County RIC → SNA
1,978 nautical miles (2,276 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 276°, about 286° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 11:13 pm PDT (06:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 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 100 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 70 to 180 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 120 to 469 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 120 to 290 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). Over the route from 709 to 1129 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 1259 to 1688 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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, 1279 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1319 to 1488 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 1608 to 1678 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1628 to 1948 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1628 to 1778 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). Over the route from 1648 to 1758 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 60 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 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 20 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, CRW, LOU, EVV, CGI, STL, COU, SGF, TUL, ICT, GAG, GCK, TCC, ALS, ABQ, FMN, PRC, BLH, ONT). 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 | 260° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 22 °C | 99 kt | 19 h 59 min | 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 14 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 24 min | 11:25 pm PDT (06:25 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 10 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 12 min | 11:13 pm PDT (06:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 6 °C | 101 kt | 19 h 35 min | 11:36 pm PDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 3 °C | 99 kt | 19 h 59 min | 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +25 kt | -1 °C | 95 kt | 20 h 49 min | 12:50 am PDT (07:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | +29 kt | -5 °C | 91 kt | 21 h 44 min | 1:45 am PDT (08:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 31 kt | +33 kt | -8 °C | 87 kt | 22 h 44 min | 2:45 am PDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 39 kt | +40 kt | -20 °C | 80 kt | 24 h 44 min | 4:45 am PDT (11:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | +56 kt | -30 °C | 64 kt | 30 h 54 min | 10:55 am PDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 55 kt | +60 kt | -38 °C | 60 kt | 32 h 58 min | 12:59 pm PDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | +56 kt | -48 °C | 64 kt | 30 h 54 min | 10:55 am PDT (17:55 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
| 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 | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| CRW | used from 150 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| LOU | used from 300 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| EVV | used from 449 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| CGI | used from 549 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| STL | used from 599 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| COU | used from 649 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| SGF | used from 699 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| TUL | used from 849 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 230/42 | 250/23 17° | 220/16 14° | 240/10 8° | 240/20 -6° | 260/28 -17° | 270/61 -29° | 280/52 -38° | 290/46 -50° |
| ICT | used from 899 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| GAG | used from 1049 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 1099 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 1199 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| ALS | used from 1299 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| ABQ | used from 1398 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| FMN | used from 1448 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| PRC | used from 1598 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1798 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| ONT | used from 1898 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
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 | no report just now | 167 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 150 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,301 ft | ||||
| LEX Lexington, KY | 350 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 979 ft | ||||
| MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL | 569 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 411 ft | ||||
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 699 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,159 ft | ||||
| ICT Wichita, KS | 959 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,332 ft | ||||
| LBL Liberal, KS | 1129 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,885 ft | ||||
| AXX Angel Fire, NM | 1339 nm out, 0 nm north of the line | no report just now | 8,379 ft | ||||
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 1528 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,742 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 1658 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| RIV Riverside, CA | 1948 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,536 ft | ||||
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | no report just now | 55 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 8,379 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:13 pm PDT (06:13 UTC)
SNA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 1798 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SNA is before sunrise there (6:54 am PDT (13:54 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, John Wayne/Orange County.