Boeing Fld/King County International to Chicago/Rockford International BFI → RFD
1,437 nautical miles (1,654 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 076° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:20 am CDT (08:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BFI is VFR, wind variable at 4 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 743 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: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 25,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 349 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 200 to 569 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 788 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 route from 319 to 818 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 BFI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 14,000 ft, 39 nm south, 4:22 pm PDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 339 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSO UA /OV 32S/TM 2322/FL140/TP E75L/TB MOD 140-210/RM DURC /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSO
- Where
- over 32S
- Time
- 23:22 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zlc
- C172 at 5,500 ft, 45 nm south, 3:17 pm PDT (22:17 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: zse. 180 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUW UA /OV PUW250030/TM 2217/FL055/TP C172/TA 00/IC TRACE RIME/RM -ZSE
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUW
- Where
- 30 nm west (250°) of PUW
- Time
- 22:17 UTC
- Height
- at 5,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- trace rime
- Remarks
- zse
- B739 at 3,700 ft, 17 nm south, 2:58 pm PDT (21:58 UTC): overcast above 3,700 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 339 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 2158/FL037/TP B739/SK OVC037/RM DURD ILS RY 12
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSO
- Where
- over MSO
- Time
- 21:58 UTC
- Height
- at 3,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- overcast from 3,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent ils runway 12
- A319 at 4,000 ft, 34 nm north, 2:13 pm PDT (21:13 UTC): no icing, overcast from 4,000 ft to 7,000 ft. 439 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GTF UA /OV GTF030005/TM 2113/FL040/TP A319/SK OVC040-TOPS070/IC NEG ICE
- Report
- a routine report filed through GTF
- Where
- 5 nm northeast (030°) of GTF
- Time
- 21:13 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft, tops 7,000 ft
- Icing
- no ice
- PC12 at 100 ft, 46 nm south, 3:34 pm PDT (22:34 UTC): no icing. 938 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2234/FL001/TP PC12/SK BASE030-TOP045/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIR
- Where
- over PIR
- Time
- 22:34 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BASE030-TOP045
- Icing
- none
- PA24 at 2,500 ft, 46 nm south, 2:35 pm PDT (21:35 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 938 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2135/FL025/TP PA24/SK BASE027/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIR
- Where
- over PIR
- Time
- 21:35 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- PA24
- Sky
- BASE027
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 24 nm north, 4:28 pm PDT (23:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 988 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABR UA /OV ABR230015/TM 2328/FL350/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABR
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (230°) of ABR
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- light chop
- P28S at 1,500 ft, 36 nm north, 2:52 pm PDT (21:52 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 998 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABR UA /OV ABR/TM 2152/FL015/TP P28S/SK BASE025-TOP033/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABR
- Where
- over ABR
- Time
- 21:52 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- P28S
- Sky
- BASE025-TOP033
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B39M at 34,000 ft, 49 nm northeast, 4:25 pm PDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1178 nm along the route, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
- Time
- 23:25 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- light chop
- C17 at 500 ft, 38 nm southeast, 2:15 pm PDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the destination end, 38 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- 1L arrival
- Time
- 21:15 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 13 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, FSD, MCW, DBQ). 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 | 120° at 5 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 12 h 36 min | 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 170° at 4 kt | +3 kt | 7 °C | 117 kt | 12 h 17 min | 7:04 am CDT (12:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 7 kt | 0 | 2 °C | 120 kt | 11 h 58 min | 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 11 kt | −4 kt | 0 °C | 124 kt | 11 h 35 min | 6:22 am CDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | −7 kt | -4 °C | 127 kt | 11 h 19 min | 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −10 kt | -8 °C | 130 kt | 11 h 03 min | 5:50 am CDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −12 kt | -12 °C | 132 kt | 10 h 53 min | 5:40 am CDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 22 kt | −13 kt | -13 °C | 133 kt | 10 h 48 min | 5:35 am CDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 29 kt | −20 kt | -23 °C | 140 kt | 10 h 16 min | 5:03 am CDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 36 kt | −24 kt | -36 °C | 144 kt | 9 h 59 min | 4:46 am CDT (09:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 43 kt | −35 kt | -43 °C | 155 kt | 9 h 16 min | 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 53 kt | −48 kt | -48 °C | 168 kt | 8 h 33 min | 3:20 am CDT (08:20 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 360/9 | 350/10 1° | 010/10 -5° | 030/20 -11° | 020/60 -17° | 010/86 -26° | 360/90 -40° | 010/68 -42° | 360/31 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 030/16 | 020/18 0° | 030/30 -8° | 030/23 -13° | 020/40 -23° | 010/73 -29° | 010/54 -36° | 360/29 -37° | 330/16 -40° |
| GEG | used from 100 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 050/18 -2° | 060/19 -8° | L/V -11° | 160/11 -24° | 190/17 -31° | 200/19 -35° | 220/14 -37° | 250/11 -41° | |
| GPI | used from 250 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 060/19 -3° | 110/11 -8° | 130/6 -8° | 200/40 -19° | 190/58 -28° | 200/101 -39° | 220/73 -43° | 230/41 -43° | |
| GTF | used from 349 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 070/21 | 080/18 -6° | 120/5 -5° | 180/30 -14° | 200/53 -24° | 210/80 -38° | 220/83 -44° | 230/68 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 499 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 080/24 | 130/14 -1° | 180/33 0° | 210/43 -10° | 220/58 -21° | 200/55 -36° | 220/75 -44° | 240/83 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 599 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 120/22 5° | 170/18 4° | 200/33 1° | 230/49 -10° | 230/58 -21° | 220/54 -37° | 230/64 -44° | 250/74 -49° | |
| DIK | used from 749 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 110/15 6° | 200/17 5° | 230/31 1° | 240/47 -10° | 240/52 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 240/57 -45° | 250/67 -51° | |
| PIR | used from 848 nm out; 77 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| ABR | used from 948 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 030/24 | 220/5 16° | 230/18 12° | 230/32 5° | 240/38 -10° | 250/37 -20° | 240/40 -35° | 240/56 -44° | 250/72 -52° |
| FSD | used from 1048 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| MCW | used from 1148 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| DBQ | used from 1297 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFI Seattle, WA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC) |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 120 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 1,188 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| GEG Spokane, WA | 190 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 2,385 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | 339 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 3,205 ft | 23:28 UTC |
| RPX Roundup, MT | 569 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| MLS Miles City, MT | 679 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 600 ft | 2,634 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| HEI Hettinger, ND | 808 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 300 ft | 2,705 ft | 23:18 UTC |
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 908 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 1,716 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| TKC Tracy, MN | 1128 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,335 ft | 23:40 UTC |
| MWM Windom, MN | 1158 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,410 ft | 23:33 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1367 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,490 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:20 am CDT (08:20 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for BFI, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 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 BFI 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC), at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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: Boeing Fld/King County International, Chicago/Rockford International.
