Bradley International to Rapid City Regional BDL → RAP
1,332 nautical miles (1,533 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 300° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 11:47 am MDT (17:47 UTC). 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
- 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). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 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 557 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 219 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 209 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 716 to 885 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 308 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). Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. 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 BDL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 44 nm south, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 328 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
- Report
- an urgent report filed through DKK
- Where
- 40 nm west (280°) of DKK
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- no inj/dmg zob
- GA6C descending, 44 nm south, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 60 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 15 nm north, 11:25 pm EDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 945 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 16,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb
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 13 forecast points nearest it (BDL, ALB, SYR, BUF, CLE, TVC, MKG, GRB, LSE, MSP, FSD, PIR, RAP). 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 | 240° at 13 kt | +12 kt | 18 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 20 min | 11:54 am MDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 14 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 20 min | 11:54 am MDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 11 kt | +11 kt | 11 °C | 109 kt | 12 h 13 min | 11:47 am MDT (17:47 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 7 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 20 min | 11:54 am MDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | +14 kt | 3 °C | 106 kt | 12 h 34 min | 12:08 pm MDT (18:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +17 kt | -2 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 56 min | 12:30 pm MDT (18:30 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | +20 kt | -6 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 19 min | 12:53 pm MDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -10 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 36 min | 1:10 pm MDT (19:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 27 kt | +28 kt | -21 °C | 92 kt | 14 h 29 min | 2:03 pm MDT (20:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 34 kt | +35 kt | -36 °C | 85 kt | 15 h 40 min | 3:14 pm MDT (21:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 42 kt | +42 kt | -43 °C | 78 kt | 17 h 05 min | 4:39 pm MDT (22:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 53 kt | +53 kt | -51 °C | 67 kt | 19 h 53 min | 7:27 pm MDT (01:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| ALB | used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| SYR | used from 99 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| BUF | used from 199 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| CLE | used from 398 nm out; 124 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° |
| TVC | used from 447 nm out; 124 nm from the line | 260/31 | 280/22 15° | 290/18 10° | 270/13 2° | 290/25 -10° | 300/35 -21° | 310/52 -37° | 320/59 -47° | 300/84 -54° |
| MKG | used from 547 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| GRB | used from 646 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| LSE | used from 746 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| MSP | used from 895 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| FSD | used from 994 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| PIR | used from 1143 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 1292 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL Windsor Locks, CT | departure | no report just now | 173 ft | ||||
| OIC Norwich, NY | 129 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,024 ft | ||||
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 169 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,099 ft | ||||
| IAG Niagara Falls, NY | 288 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 592 ft | ||||
| MBS Saginaw, MI | 507 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 668 ft | ||||
| LDM Ludington, MI | 616 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 646 ft | ||||
| OSH Oshkosh, WI | 706 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 808 ft | ||||
| CMY Sparta, WI | 805 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 839 ft | ||||
| BKX Brookings, SD | 1064 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,647 ft | ||||
| HON Huron, SD | 1123 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,288 ft | ||||
| PHP Philip, SD | 1273 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,209 ft | ||||
| RAP Rapid City, SD | destination | no report just now | 3,203 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:47 am MDT (17:47 UTC)
RAP has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 BDL 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC), at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 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: Bradley International, Rapid City Regional.