Willow Run Airport to Raleigh-Durham International YIP → RDU
441 nautical miles (508 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 148°, about 154° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:28 am EDT (05:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now YIP is marginal VFR, wind calm; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 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 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 167 to 333 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.
- 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 first 324 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 196 to 363 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 363 to 392 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 YIP.
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 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 (CLE, CMH, CRW, EKN, ROA, RDU). 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 | 320° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 12 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 08 min | 1:50 am EDT (05:50 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 10 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 06 min | 1:48 am EDT (05:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 7 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 05 min | 1:47 am EDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 4 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 06 min | 1:48 am EDT (05:48 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 0 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 05 min | 1:47 am EDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -4 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 01 min | 1:43 am EDT (05:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -8 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 59 min | 1:41 am EDT (05:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -9 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 58 min | 1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 35 kt | −34 kt | -21 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 52 min | 1:34 am EDT (05:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -35 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 49 min | 1:31 am EDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 43 kt | −39 kt | -41 °C | 159 kt | 2 h 46 min | 1:28 am EDT (05:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 39 kt | −37 kt | -48 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 49 min | 1:31 am EDT (05:31 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
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | used from 0 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| CMH | used from 98 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CRW | used from 196 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| EKN | used from 245 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| ROA | used from 294 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| RDU | used from 392 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YIP Detroit, MI | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 715 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| TTF Monroe, MI | 20 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 500 ft | 615 ft | 18:35 UTC |
| PCW Port Clinton, OH | 49 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 590 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| MFD Mansfield, OH | 98 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 1,297 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| CDI Cambridge, OH | 167 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 798 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 196 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 858 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| USW Spencer, WV | 226 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 928 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 304 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 333 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 1,175 ft | 02:18 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 353 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 938 ft | 02:18 UTC |
| TDF Roxboro, NC | 412 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,900 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 608 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 435 ft | 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:28 am EDT (05:28 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for YIP, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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: Willow Run Airport, Raleigh-Durham International.