Plan a flight · Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC)

Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field to Raleigh-Durham International BFF → RDU

1,209 nautical miles (1,392 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 099°, about 089° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC). Right now BFF is low IFR, wind from the east-northeast (070°) at 7 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 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: 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

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 first 60 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 route from 30 to 110 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 160 to 580 nm out.
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 790 to 1089 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 949 to 1109 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1049 to 1129 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 1069 to 1129 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 1109 to 1189 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

E75L at 30,000 ft, 16 nm north, 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. At the destination end, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDU
Where
20 nm north (360°) of RDU
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at F300
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
E550 at 8,700 ft, 39 nm south, 4:30 am MDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 770 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVV
Where
over EVV
Time
10:30 UTC
Height
at 8,700 ft
Aircraft
E550
Sky
clear
Remarks
visual conditions clear during the climb
E170 at 100 ft, 10 nm northeast, 4:11 am MDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 899 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 10 nm northeast, 4:11 am MDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 899 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 3:37 am MDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 899 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 44 nm south, 4:10 am MDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 1029 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
booie
Time
10:10 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 14 forecast points nearest it (BFF, ONL, GRI, OMA, MKC, DSM, COU, BRL, SPI, EVV, LOU, TRI, ROA, RDU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	260° at 26 kt	−24 kt		144 kt	8 h 24 min	3:24 pm EDT (19:24 UTC)
5,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	−21 kt	18 °C	141 kt	8 h 34 min	3:34 pm EDT (19:34 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	−18 kt	14 °C	138 kt	8 h 46 min	3:46 pm EDT (19:46 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−16 kt	10 °C	136 kt	8 h 53 min	3:53 pm EDT (19:53 UTC)
11,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−16 kt	6 °C	136 kt	8 h 53 min	3:53 pm EDT (19:53 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 17 kt	−18 kt	2 °C	138 kt	8 h 46 min	3:46 pm EDT (19:46 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	−21 kt	-2 °C	141 kt	8 h 34 min	3:34 pm EDT (19:34 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	−23 kt	-7 °C	143 kt	8 h 27 min	3:27 pm EDT (19:27 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 22 kt	−24 kt	-8 °C	144 kt	8 h 24 min	3:24 pm EDT (19:24 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 30 kt	−30 kt	-20 °C	150 kt	8 h 04 min	3:04 pm EDT (19:04 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 40 kt	−41 kt	-32 °C	161 kt	7 h 31 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 48 kt	−50 kt	-39 °C	170 kt	7 h 07 min	2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 49 kt	−50 kt	-48 °C	170 kt	7 h 07 min	2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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		280/28	260/39 11°	240/34 5°	210/38 -11°	210/52 -22°	230/61 -31°	230/61 -36°	240/56 -45°
ONL	used from 100 nm out; 112 nm from the line		250/31 22°	230/27 16°	220/25 8°	230/25 -9°	220/29 -22°	250/42 -33°	250/48 -36°	250/52 -46°
GRI	used from 150 nm out; 70 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
OMA	used from 300 nm out; 42 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
MKC	used from 400 nm out; 76 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
DSM	used from 450 nm out; 84 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
COU	used from 500 nm out; 67 nm from the line	250/36	260/14 16°	250/5 12°	260/12 6°	260/24 -7°	260/35 -19°	280/58 -31°	280/62 -40°	290/60 -49°
BRL	used from 550 nm out; 66 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
SPI	used from 600 nm out; 36 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
EVV	used from 700 nm out; 61 nm from the line	270/25	290/17 15°	260/10 8°	270/16 5°	280/29 -6°	280/33 -19°	290/38 -33°	300/53 -41°	310/54 -51°
LOU	used from 800 nm out; 27 nm from the line	300/16	310/19 15°	310/17 9°	300/15 4°	300/26 -6°	280/34 -19°	290/30 -34°	310/49 -42°	310/58 -51°
TRI	used from 949 nm out; 71 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
ROA	used from 1099 nm out; 56 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
RDU	used from 1149 nm out; 35 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -47°

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: overcast at 400 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 7 knots	7 mi	400 ft	3,967 ft	4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC)
AIA Alliance, NE	30 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots	1 mi	200 ft	3,930 ft	10:53 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	240 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	10:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	310 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	10:54 UTC
TRX Trenton, MO	470 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				757 ft
HAE Hannibal, MO	570 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	768 ft	10:55 UTC
VLA Vandalia, IL	680 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	no report just now				537 ft
FRH French Lick, IN	800 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	792 ft	10:55 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	849 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	7 mi	none	500 ft	10:56 UTC
CPF Hazard, KY	979 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	calm	7 mi	600 ft	1,256 ft	11:15 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	1149 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	925 ft	10:54 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	6:51 am EDT (10:51 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 RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:07 pm EDT (18:07 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for BFF, the departure

From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 300 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
From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 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 RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field, Raleigh-Durham International.