Plan a flight · Sun 9:05 pm EDT (01:05 UTC)

Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport SDF → DCA

411 nautical miles (472 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:43 pm EDT (03:43 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; DCA is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 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: 1,981 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 68 to 254 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 166 to 352 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 274 to 401 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 last 98 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 SDF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 35 nm north, 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 283 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E170 at 22,500 ft, 25 nm north, 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft, remarks: during the descent FRDMM7 star. 342 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OKV UA /OV ESL100020/TM 2344/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS MOD CAT 180-225/RM DURD FRDMM7 STAR
```
Report
a routine report filed through OKV
Where
20 nm east (100°) of ESL
Time
23:44 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft
Remarks
during the descent FRDMM7 star
E170 climbing, 0 nm north, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 5 nm northeast, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37
CRJ9 descending, 16 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 49 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
B739 climbing, 44 nm north, 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 49 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
23:31 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
B026 overcast T036
A333 at 4,000 ft, 44 nm north, 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. 49 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A333
Sky
B025 overcast T035
B737 at 23,000 ft, 43 nm north, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 59 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B753 at 32,000 ft, 43 nm north, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 59 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2211/FL320/TP B753/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B753
Turbulence
none
CRJ9 at 28,000 ft, 9 nm north, 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC): light turbulence. 98 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FGX/TM 2233/FL280/TP CRJ9/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over FGX
Time
22:33 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
light
P28A climbing, 6 nm northwest, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions. 147 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV DWU/TM 2315/FLDURC/TP P28A/TB SMOOTH/RM IMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over DWU
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
P28A
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
instrument conditions
P28A descending, 41 nm north, 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,200 ft. 166 nm along the route, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV KUNI/TM 2214/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK SCT012/WX 3SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over KUNI
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
scattered clouds from 1,200 ft
Weather
3SM
CRJ9 climbing, 12 nm south, 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 195 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 49 nm south, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 215 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (LOU, CVG, CRW, EKN, RIC). 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	290° at 9 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	3 h 14 min	12:19 am EDT (04:19 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 12 kt	−11 kt	13 °C	131 kt	3 h 08 min	12:13 am EDT (04:13 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−10 kt	11 °C	130 kt	3 h 10 min	12:15 am EDT (04:15 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 10 kt	−8 kt	7 °C	128 kt	3 h 13 min	12:18 am EDT (04:18 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 8 kt	−6 kt	4 °C	126 kt	3 h 16 min	12:21 am EDT (04:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 9 kt	−7 kt	0 °C	127 kt	3 h 14 min	12:19 am EDT (04:19 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−9 kt	-4 °C	129 kt	3 h 11 min	12:16 am EDT (04:16 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	−11 kt	-8 °C	131 kt	3 h 08 min	12:13 am EDT (04:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 13 kt	−12 kt	-9 °C	132 kt	3 h 07 min	12:12 am EDT (04:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 23 kt	−22 kt	-20 °C	142 kt	2 h 54 min	11:59 pm EDT (03:59 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 35 kt	−29 kt	-32 °C	149 kt	2 h 46 min	11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 40 kt	−35 kt	-38 °C	155 kt	2 h 39 min	11:44 pm EDT (03:44 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 39 kt	−36 kt	-48 °C	156 kt	2 h 38 min	11:43 pm EDT (03:43 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
LOU	used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
CVG	used from 49 nm out; 48 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°
CRW	used from 98 nm out; 74 nm from the line	320/16	310/16 12°	320/12 7°	320/12 2°	330/15 -11°	280/11 -22°	230/26 -30°	240/33 -37°	240/37 -47°
EKN	used from 244 nm out; 15 nm from the line		270/18 13°	310/5 7°	140/7 3°	210/16 -9°	220/41 -20°	210/57 -32°	220/57 -38°	230/49 -47°
RIC	used from 342 nm out; 84 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°

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
SDF Louisville, KY	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)
FFT Frankfort, KY	39 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	812 ft	00:53 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	49 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	9 mi	800 ft	979 ft	00:59 UTC
FGX Flemingsburg, KY	98 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots	1.75 mi	300 ft	913 ft	23:35 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	147 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	1 mi	700 ft	828 ft	00:51 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	195 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist	variable at 6 knots	1 mi	700 ft	947 ft	00:54 UTC
SXL Summersville, WV	225 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,819 ft
EKN Elkins, WV	283 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist	calm	3 mi	1,800 ft	1,987 ft	00:51 UTC
VBW Bridgewater, VA	323 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	calm	10+ mi	700 ft	1,165 ft	23:35 UTC
LUA Luray, VA	342 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	400 ft	902 ft	23:35 UTC
HEF Washington, DC	391 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (350°) at 7 knots	3 mi	500 ft	192 ft	00:56 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots	6 mi	400 ft	14 ft	8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:43 pm EDT (03:43 UTC)

Wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR

The whole forecast for DCA

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for SDF, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.