Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field to Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl Airport BFF → ICT
381 nautical miles (438 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 130°, about 120° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:38 am CDT (05:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BFF is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 12 knots; ICT is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21. 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
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 78 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 29 nm along the route.
- 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 last 313 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 BFF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 6:18 pm MDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 137 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B789 at 40,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 117 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SNY
- Where
- 81 nm east (088°) of SNY
- Time
- 00:22 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- B789 at 40,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 117 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SNY
- Where
- 72 nm east (088°) of SNY
- Time
- 00:22 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 4 forecast points nearest it (BFF, GLD, SLN, ICT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | +1 kt | 119 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:18 am CDT (06:18 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | −3 kt | 17 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 06 min | 1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −4 kt | 14 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 04 min | 1:10 am CDT (06:10 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | 0 | 9 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 10 min | 1:16 am CDT (06:16 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −1 kt | 4 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 09 min | 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −3 kt | -1 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 06 min | 1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −6 kt | -6 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 01 min | 1:07 am CDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | −6 kt | -7 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 01 min | 1:07 am CDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 33 kt | −6 kt | -20 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 01 min | 1:07 am CDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 55 kt | −18 kt | -31 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 46 min | 12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 57 kt | −25 kt | -36 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 38 min | 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | −30 kt | -47 °C | 150 kt | 2 h 32 min | 12:38 am CDT (05:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFF | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| GLD | used from 98 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| SLN | used from 244 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| ICT | used from 342 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | departure | VFR | from the east (100°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
| CNP Chappell, NE | 68 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,681 ft | ||||
| IML Imperial, NE | 117 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,276 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 166 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 186 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| HLC Hill City, KS | 225 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 2,238 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| HYS Hays, KS | 273 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 1,999 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| LYO Lyons, KS | 322 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,691 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 352 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| ICT Wichita, KS | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,332 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,967 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ICT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:38 am CDT (05:38 UTC)
Wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ICT
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 18 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for BFF, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 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 BFF 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC), at ICT 6:56 pm CDT (23:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ICT is before sunrise there (7:35 am CDT (12:35 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: Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field, Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower Ntl Airport.