What's flying over Raleigh right now?

What you're seeing over Raleigh

The airliners over Raleigh are mostly flying to or from Raleigh-Durham International, which sits between Raleigh and Durham, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Raleigh. RDU is not a hub, but American, Delta and Southwest all run sizable operations there, with United, JetBlue, Alaska, Frontier and others adding service to keep up with the Triangle's fast growth.

RDU's parallel runways run northeast-southwest, so arrivals and departures cross Cary, Morrisville, Durham and the area around Umstead State Park, while downtown Raleigh sees aircraft mostly at moderate altitudes on arrival and departure routes. The Research Triangle Park, home to many tech and pharmaceutical companies, brings plenty of business jets. To the east, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro flies F-15E Strike Eagles, and you'll occasionally see them over eastern Wake County. Many of the regional jets you see are shuttling to American's hub in Charlotte, a short hop to the southwest.

Airports near Raleigh

• commercialRDURaleigh-Durham International Airport
  KRDU · 11 miles northwest of downtown
  The Triangle's main airport, between Raleigh and Durham, with American, Delta and Southwest as the largest carriers. Live traffic at RDU ↗
• general aviationKTTARaleigh Executive Jetport
  KTTA · 29 miles southwest of downtown
  A business and general aviation airport in Sanford, southwest of Raleigh. Live traffic at KTTA ↗
• general aviationKJNXJohnston Regional Airport
  KJNX · 22 miles southeast of downtown
  A general aviation airport in Smithfield, southeast of Raleigh. Live traffic at KJNX ↗
• militaryGSBSeymour Johnson Air Force Base
  KGSB · 49 miles southeast of downtown
  An Air Force base in Goldsboro flying F-15E Strike Eagles and KC-46 tankers. Live traffic at GSB ↗

Common traffic over Raleigh

American, Delta and Southwest fly the largest share of RDU's airline traffic, with A321s, 737s and regional jets connecting to their hubs, and United, JetBlue, Alaska, Frontier, Allegiant and others add more. International service connects RDU with Europe and Canada, so a widebody occasionally appears. FedEx and UPS freighters serve RDU.

RDU has two parallel runways running northeast-southwest, plus a shorter crosswind runway:

• Southwest flow, common with prevailing southwest winds: arrivals descend from the northeast over north Raleigh and Umstead State Park, and departures climb out to the southwest over Morrisville, Cary and Apex.
• Northeast flow: arrivals come in from the southwest over Cary and Apex, and departures climb northeast over north Raleigh and Wake Forest.

Business aviation is a big part of RDU's traffic, with corporate jets serving the Research Triangle Park's tech, pharmaceutical and research companies.

Military flying comes from Seymour Johnson, where the 4th Fighter Wing flies F-15E Strike Eagles, and the 916th Air Refueling Wing flies KC-46 tankers. Fort Bragg and Pope Field, to the southwest, add Army helicopters and transports. Helicopters also include Duke Life Flight and WakeMed medevac, the State Highway Patrol and news crews. Overflights between the Northeast and Florida pass high over the region along the East Coast.

Aircraft you'll often see here

Plane-spotting tips for Raleigh

RDU's Observation Park, a public park next to the airport's main runway, is a dedicated spot for watching arrivals and departures, with a parking lot and picnic tables. Umstead State Park, east of the airport, has trails under some arrival and departure paths. The roads around the airport's perimeter, especially along Lumley Road and Aviation Parkway, give more views. From downtown Raleigh, look northwest toward RDU. Spring pollen can create a yellow haze, while fall offers the clearest, crispest days for spotting. Lake Crabtree County Park, just southwest of RDU, sits near the southwest-flow departure path and has trails and an open lakeshore.

Raleigh sky questions

Nearby cities

Planes over Charlotte (130 mi) · Planes over Richmond (139 mi) · Planes over Virginia Beach (166 mi) · Planes over Washington, D.C. (233 mi)