The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC)

Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International to Billings Logan International ATL → BIL

1,324 nautical miles (1,523 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 311°, about 316° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 10:39 am MDT (16:39 UTC). Right now ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 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 return flight

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 8C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 1105 to 1115 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS32 KKCI 120455
    MKCC WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8C
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    NE SD WY
    FROM 50WNW RAP-20SSW RAP-60NW BFF-40ENE DDY-50WNW RAP
    DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
  • 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 70 to 169 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 498 to 956 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 438 nm of the route.
  • 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 1085 to 1244 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 1095 to 1234 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1155 to 1284 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 139 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.

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 ATL.

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

No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.

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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (ATL, HSV, BNA, CGI, STL, COU, MKC, OMA, GRI, ONL, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft230° at 17 kt+4 kt15 °C116 kt11 h 25 min10:39 am MDT (16:39 UTC)
6,500 ft240° at 15 kt+6 kt15 °C114 kt11 h 37 min10:51 am MDT (16:51 UTC)
8,500 ft240° at 16 kt+8 kt12 °C112 kt11 h 49 min11:03 am MDT (17:03 UTC)
10,500 ft240° at 16 kt+9 kt8 °C111 kt11 h 56 min11:10 am MDT (17:10 UTC)
12,500 ft240° at 16 kt+9 kt5 °C111 kt11 h 56 min11:10 am MDT (17:10 UTC)
14,500 ft250° at 18 kt+11 kt0 °C109 kt12 h 09 min11:23 am MDT (17:23 UTC)
16,500 ft250° at 19 kt+13 kt-4 °C107 kt12 h 22 min11:36 am MDT (17:36 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180260° at 21 kt+15 kt-8 °C105 kt12 h 37 min11:51 am MDT (17:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240260° at 25 kt+18 kt-19 °C102 kt12 h 59 min12:13 pm MDT (18:13 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300270° at 34 kt+29 kt-34 °C91 kt14 h 33 min1:47 pm MDT (19:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340270° at 47 kt+43 kt-40 °C77 kt17 h 12 min4:26 pm MDT (22:26 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390270° at 47 kt+43 kt-49 °C77 kt17 h 12 min4:26 pm MDT (22:26 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
ATLused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line320/30330/37 16°340/44 11°330/35 7°310/33 -6°300/38 -18°330/58 -33°330/48 -40°320/34 -49°
HSVused from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line310/20330/20 16°320/27 11°340/23 5°320/23 -7°340/30 -17°320/50 -33°330/61 -41°340/41 -50°
BNAused from 149 nm out; 44 nm from the line310/20340/20 17°330/24 10°340/22 5°330/26 -6°340/29 -18°330/52 -33°320/62 -41°340/45 -50°
CGIused from 249 nm out; 58 nm from the line240/20270/15 15°280/15 11°300/13 6°290/20 -6°280/24 -18°300/34 -32°300/47 -41°310/49 -51°
STLused from 398 nm out; 58 nm from the line250/24250/24 16°260/23 9°270/16 6°260/25 -6°270/29 -19°290/34 -33°290/48 -41°290/54 -51°
COUused from 448 nm out; 18 nm from the line230/31230/30 15°260/16 11°270/14 6°260/24 -6°270/27 -18°270/37 -32°280/49 -41°290/56 -51°
MKCused from 547 nm out; 43 nm from the line220/44250/28 18°250/18 13°240/12 6°280/24 -6°240/34 -18°260/47 -30°260/51 -40°270/58 -50°
OMAused from 647 nm out; 54 nm from the line220/47240/33 19°250/18 11°230/17 6°260/29 -8°250/33 -19°250/51 -33°260/61 -40°270/62 -49°
GRIused from 746 nm out; 46 nm from the line230/35 21°230/23 13°220/20 7°240/25 -8°240/37 -20°250/49 -33°260/57 -38°260/58 -47°
ONLused from 796 nm out; 43 nm from the line210/31 20°230/27 13°230/18 7°220/19 -8°240/26 -20°250/44 -35°270/52 -39°260/57 -47°
PIRused from 946 nm out; 89 nm from the line170/22 19°190/25 13°210/32 6°240/23 -9°250/32 -21°250/38 -36°260/44 -40°260/52 -47°
RAPused from 995 nm out; 49 nm from the line180/23 12°200/38 13°210/38 6°220/28 -10°230/34 -21°230/37 -36°250/52 -38°250/59 -46°
MLSused from 1194 nm out; 85 nm from the line150/23 2°190/29 4°210/44 2°220/32 -10°210/36 -21°200/48 -37°230/63 -40°240/71 -47°
BILused from 1244 nm out; 55 nm from the line080/13180/9 -2°210/38 0°220/51 -11°210/46 -22°210/58 -35°230/73 -39°230/72 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
ATL Atlanta, GA departure VFR from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 1,026 ft 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC)
RYY Atlanta, GA 20 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the west (270°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 1,040 ft 04:50 UTC
MRC Columbia/Mount Pleasant, TN 179 nm out, 2 nm east of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 681 ft 04:50 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO 328 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 341 ft 20:53 UTC
JEF Jefferson City, MO 478 nm out, 0 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 549 ft 04:53 UTC
STJ St Joseph, MO 627 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 10 knots 10+ mi none 826 ft 04:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE 727 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR from the south (180°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 1,218 ft 04:54 UTC
ANW Ainsworth, NE 906 nm out, 3 nm north of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet calm 7 mi 700 ft 2,588 ft 04:55 UTC
VTN Valentine, NE 936 nm out, 4 nm north of the line IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots 10+ mi 500 ft 2,595 ft 04:52 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD 1065 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots 6 mi 700 ft 3,203 ft 04:52 UTC
BIL Billings, MT destination marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots 4 mi 1,200 ft 3,662 ft 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,662 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, 10:39 am MDT (16:39 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet and more above IFR

The whole forecast for BIL
  • From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 500 feet
  • From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, freezing fog, a broken layer at 500 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet and more above
  • From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
The forecast for ATL, the departure
  • From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC), at BIL 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 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
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International, Billings Logan International.