Alexandria International to Billings Logan International AEX → BIL
1,144 nautical miles (1,317 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 324°, about 321° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:22 pm MDT (22:22 UTC). Right now AEX is VFR, wind calm; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 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 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- 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 279 to 637 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 776 to 955 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 886 to 915 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1015 to 1134 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 AEX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 , 6 nm west, 7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW86. 80 nm along the route, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
SHV UA /OV EMG/TM 1203/FLB38M/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP DURC/RM ZFW86
- Report
- a routine report filed through SHV
- Where
- over EMG
- Time
- 12:03 UTC
- Height
- at B38M
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop during the climb
- Remarks
- ZFW86
- E170 at 26,000 ft, 46 nm northeast, 7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW50. 328 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUL UA /OV TUL/TM 1234/FL260/TP E170/TB LGT TO MOD CHOP/RM ZFW50
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUL
- Where
- over TUL
- Time
- 12:34 UTC
- Height
- at 26,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZFW50
- CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 32 nm southwest, 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zkc fd dl. 517 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DDC UA /OV DDC090024/TM 1125/FL280/TP CRJ7/TB LGT/RM ZKC FD DL
- Report
- a routine report filed through DDC
- Where
- 24 nm east (090°) of DDC
- Time
- 11:25 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- zkc fd dl
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 10 forecast points nearest it (SHV, FSM, TUL, ICT, SLN, GCK, GLD, BFF, RAP, BIL). 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 | 250° at 26 kt | +8 kt | 18 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 13 min | 5:12 pm MDT (23:12 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +9 kt | 17 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 18 min | 5:17 pm MDT (23:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +8 kt | 13 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 13 min | 5:12 pm MDT (23:12 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 10 h 02 min | 5:01 pm MDT (23:01 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 9 h 57 min | 4:56 pm MDT (22:56 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +3 kt | -1 °C | 117 kt | 9 h 47 min | 4:46 pm MDT (22:46 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +1 kt | -5 °C | 119 kt | 9 h 37 min | 4:36 pm MDT (22:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | 0 | -9 °C | 120 kt | 9 h 32 min | 4:31 pm MDT (22:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 36 kt | −2 kt | -20 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 23 min | 4:22 pm MDT (22:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | +21 kt | -30 °C | 99 kt | 11 h 33 min | 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 52 kt | +25 kt | -37 °C | 95 kt | 12 h 03 min | 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 47 kt | +24 kt | -48 °C | 96 kt | 11 h 55 min | 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHV | used from 0 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| FSM | used from 199 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
| TUL | used from 249 nm out; 74 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 398 nm out; 46 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° |
| SLN | used from 498 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| GCK | used from 547 nm out; 72 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° | |
| GLD | used from 597 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| BFF | used from 746 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| RAP | used from 896 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 995 nm out; 124 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEX Alexandria, LA | departure | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 88 ft | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| DTN Shreveport, LA | 100 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 179 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| TXK Texarkana, AR | 149 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 389 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| MLC Mc Alester, OK | 269 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 770 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| SWO Stillwater, OK | 368 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,000 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 527 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 657 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| IML Imperial, NE | 707 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,276 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| LSK Lusk, WY | 886 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 4,966 ft | ||||
| BYG Buffalo, WY | 1025 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 17 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 4,970 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 1055 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 4,021 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 3,662 ft | 6:53 am MDT (12:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,970 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:22 pm MDT (22:22 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BIL
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain snow, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
The forecast for AEX, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds 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 AEX 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC), at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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: Alexandria International, Billings Logan International.