Plan a flight · Sun 8:08 pm CDT (01:08 UTC)

Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport VPS → DCA

686 nautical miles (790 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 040°, about 043° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now VPS is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 5 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: 709 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 358 to 477 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 477 to 497 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 139 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 627 to 676 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 VPS.

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

B752 descending, 44 nm northwest, 6:03 pm CDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 209 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 44 nm northwest, 5:38 pm CDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 209 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
C55B at 3,000 ft, 40 nm northwest, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 249 nm along the route, 40 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 17 nm northwest, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 418 nm along the route, 17 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
PC24 at 4,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 467 nm along the route, 41 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
90 nm north (005°) of CLT
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Weather
fi s
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
18 final
CRJ7 descending, 20 nm southeast, 5:32 pm CDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 467 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
B763 at 3,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 477 nm along the route, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 19 nm southeast, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 477 nm along the route, 19 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
C52C at 12,500 ft, 44 nm northwest, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 487 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none
B39M at 36,000 ft, 49 nm northwest, 5:12 pm CDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. 487 nm along the route, 49 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSK UA /OV PSK/TM 2212/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-15
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSK
Where
over PSK
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-15
E145 at 4,000 ft, 38 nm northwest, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 517 nm along the route, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA
E145 at 2,200 ft, 38 nm northwest, 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 517 nm along the route, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA
E170 at 500 ft, 16 nm northwest, 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 607 nm along the route, 16 nm northwest 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
E175 at 600 ft, 16 nm northwest, 5:20 pm CDT (22:20 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 607 nm along the route, 16 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHO UA /OV CHO/TM 2220/FL006/TP E175/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHO
Where
over CHO
Time
22:20 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
E175
Sky
bases 600 ft

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 6 forecast points nearest it (MGM, CSG, ATL, GSP, ROA, 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 15 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	5 h 27 min	2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	5 h 37 min	2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	−2 kt	11 °C	122 kt	5 h 37 min	2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	−4 kt	9 °C	124 kt	5 h 32 min	2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	−6 kt	6 °C	126 kt	5 h 27 min	2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC)
13,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	−10 kt	2 °C	130 kt	5 h 17 min	2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 24 kt	−15 kt	-1 °C	135 kt	5 h 05 min	2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 27 kt	−20 kt	-5 °C	140 kt	4 h 54 min	2:02 am EDT (06:02 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 28 kt	−21 kt	-6 °C	141 kt	4 h 52 min	2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 36 kt	−31 kt	-18 °C	151 kt	4 h 33 min	1:41 am EDT (05:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 48 kt	−47 kt	-32 °C	167 kt	4 h 06 min	1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 52 kt	−51 kt	-40 °C	171 kt	4 h 01 min	1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 48 kt	−47 kt	-50 °C	167 kt	4 h 06 min	1:14 am EDT (05:14 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
MGM	used from 0 nm out; 91 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
CSG	used from 99 nm out; 28 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
ATL	used from 199 nm out; 45 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
GSP	used from 249 nm out; 70 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
ROA	used from 448 nm out; 61 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
RIC	used from 597 nm out; 49 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
VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL	departure	VFR	from the west (280°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	84 ft	7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC)
EDN Enterprise, AL	60 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	360 ft	00:55 UTC
DHN Dothan, AL	70 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	400 ft	23:55 UTC
CSG Columbus, GA	149 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	397 ft	00:51 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	269 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	812 ft	00:51 UTC
GYH Greenville, SC	328 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	955 ft	00:47 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	408 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	00:53 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	467 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	969 ft	00:54 UTC
LYH Lynchburg, VA	547 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	calm	10+ mi	400 ft	938 ft	00:54 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	607 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	2 mi	1,300 ft	640 ft	01:04 UTC
HEF Washington, DC	666 nm out, 10 nm northwest 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 1,189 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, 1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC)

Wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 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 VPS, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, 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 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at VPS 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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: Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.