Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field to Jackson Hole Airport BFF → JAC
332 nautical miles (382 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 281° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 1:02 am MDT (07:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BFF is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 11 knots; JAC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 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: 3 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 5C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm MDT (05:55 UTC). Over the route from 29 to 127 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120355 MKCC WST 120355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 5C VALID UNTIL 0555Z NE CO WY FROM 40SE CZI-30WNW BFF-30SSE LAR-70NW LAR-40SE CZI DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 312 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 312 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 last 244 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 156 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 146 nm of the route.
- 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 117 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 263 nm along 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
- S22T at 15,000 ft, 37 nm north, 7:47 pm MDT (01:47 UTC): moderate rime icing above 15,000 ft, -5 °C. 312 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV DNW010020/TM 0147/FL150/TP S22T/TA M05/IC MOD RIME 150 /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- 20 nm north (010°) of DNW
- Time
- 01:47 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Icing
- moderate rime at 15,000 ft zlc
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 2 forecast points nearest it (BFF, LND). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +3 kt | 6 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 50 min | 1:02 am MDT (07:02 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 56 min | 1:08 am MDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 31 kt | +10 kt | 2 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 01 min | 1:13 am MDT (07:13 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +12 kt | -3 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 04 min | 1:16 am MDT (07:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +14 kt | -7 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 08 min | 1:20 am MDT (07:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 37 kt | +15 kt | -10 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 10 min | 1:22 am MDT (07:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 39 kt | +19 kt | -22 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 17 min | 1:29 am MDT (07:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 48 kt | +17 kt | -29 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 13 min | 1:25 am MDT (07:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 60 kt | +26 kt | -37 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 32 min | 1:44 am MDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 63 kt | +38 kt | -45 °C | 82 kt | 4 h 03 min | 2:15 am MDT (08:15 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° | |
| LND | used from 98 nm out; 114 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | departure | VFR | from the east (100°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 9:53 pm MDT (03:53 UTC) |
| TOR Torrington, WY | 29 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the east (090°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,206 ft | 03:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 59 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, overcast at 14,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,401 ft | 03:55 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 137 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,344 ft | 03:53 UTC |
| RIW Riverton, WY | 224 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 300 ft | 5,516 ft | 03:53 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 283 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: drizzle | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 500 ft | 7,298 ft | 03:55 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 6,451 ft | 9:56 pm MDT (03:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:02 am MDT (07:02 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for JAC
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, rain, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 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 JAC 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm MDT (01:13 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at JAC is before sunrise there (7:33 am MDT (13:33 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, Jackson Hole Airport.