Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field to Lubbock Preston Smith International BFF → LBB
500 nautical miles (575 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 170°, about 160° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (5,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC). Right now BFF is low IFR, wind calm; LBB is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 8 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 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- 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 10 to 216 nm out.
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
- B38M at 12,000 ft, 47 nm west, 8:07 am MDT (14:07 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft. 118 nm along the route, 47 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN090025/TM 1407/FL120/TP B38M/TB MOD/RM 110-120
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm east (090°) of DEN
- Time
- 14:07 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft
- BE20 at 8,000 ft, 37 nm east, 7:15 am MDT (13:15 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: durd-zdvwc 31. At the departure end, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
AIA UA /OV KAIA/TM 1315/FL080/TP BE20/SK TOP 045 BASE 002/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD-ZDVWC- 31
- Report
- a routine report filed through AIA
- Where
- over KAIA
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- top 4,500 ft base 200 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- durd-zdvwc 31
- E145 at 40,000 ft, 46 nm east, 7:38 am MDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW55. At the destination end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBB UA /OV LBB070050/TM 1338/FL400/TP E145/TB NEG/RM ZFW55
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBB
- Where
- 50 nm east (070°) of LBB
- Time
- 13:38 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW55
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BFF, DEN, GLD, PUB, GCK, AMA, LBB). 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 | 250° at 18 kt | +2 kt | 20 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 14 min | 2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +4 kt | 14 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 19 min | 2:12 pm CDT (19:12 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 11 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 25 min | 2:18 pm CDT (19:18 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | +11 kt | 7 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 35 min | 2:28 pm CDT (19:28 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | +14 kt | 2 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 43 min | 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +16 kt | -2 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 48 min | 2:41 pm CDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 39 kt | +19 kt | -7 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:50 pm CDT (19:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 39 kt | +19 kt | -8 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:50 pm CDT (19:50 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 50 kt | +20 kt | -19 °C | 100 kt | 5 h | 2:53 pm CDT (19:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 70 kt | +22 kt | -29 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 06 min | 2:59 pm CDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 77 kt | +22 kt | -37 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 06 min | 2:59 pm CDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 73 kt | +21 kt | -48 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 03 min | 2:56 pm CDT (19:56 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 25 nm from the line | 310/15 | 280/27 8° | 250/27 2° | 230/30 -12° | 240/52 -22° | 250/66 -32° | 240/78 -37° | 240/76 -43° | |
| DEN | used from 98 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 230/7 11° | 230/13 4° | 230/40 -9° | 230/48 -20° | 240/66 -32° | 240/88 -38° | 230/100 -47° | ||
| GLD | used from 147 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 240/22 | 250/24 13° | 250/39 6° | 230/42 -8° | 230/55 -21° | 240/87 -30° | 240/96 -36° | 250/93 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 196 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 250/31 11° | 240/42 5° | 230/46 -7° | 230/59 -20° | 240/77 -30° | 230/94 -37° | 240/95 -49° | ||
| GCK | used from 245 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 250/23 20° | 230/35 13° | 240/47 7° | 240/42 -7° | 250/43 -20° | 240/81 -28° | 250/87 -37° | 250/83 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 294 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/25 14° | 230/31 8° | 230/42 -7° | 240/50 -18° | 240/69 -27° | 250/68 -37° | 250/58 -49° | |
| LBB | used from 441 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 240/21 20° | 230/20 15° | 210/19 8° | 230/39 -6° | 230/48 -16° | 240/57 -27° | 250/51 -37° | 240/45 -50° |
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 | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,967 ft | 8:34 am MDT (14:34 UTC) |
| IBM Kimball, NE | 39 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,925 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| STK Sterling, CO | 78 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,037 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 108 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LAA Lamar, CO | 235 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,705 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| DUX Dumas, TX | 373 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 3,706 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 412 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 3,606 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| PVW Plainview, TX | 471 nm out, 10 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,374 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| LBB Lubbock, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,925 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LBB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC)
Wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LBB
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BFF, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1½ miles, mist, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 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 BFF 6:16 pm MDT (00:16 UTC), at LBB 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:41 pm CDT (00:41 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, Lubbock Preston Smith International.