Billings Logan International to Boeing Fld/King County International BIL → BFI
575 nautical miles (662 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:44 am PDT (15:44 UTC). Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots; BFI is VFR, wind calm. 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
- 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 218 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 397 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 367 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 228 to 546 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 BIL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BIL, GTF, DLN, LWS, GEG, YKM, SEA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 340° at 5 kt | +2 kt | -2 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 52 min | 8:53 am PDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 5 kt | +2 kt | -3 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 52 min | 8:53 am PDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 2 kt | +1 kt | -5 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 50 min | 8:51 am PDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 3 kt | +2 kt | -6 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 52 min | 8:53 am PDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 4 kt | +3 kt | -8 °C | 117 kt | 4 h 55 min | 8:56 am PDT (15:56 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 3 kt | +1 kt | -11 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 50 min | 8:51 am PDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 360° at 2 kt | −1 kt | -15 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 45 min | 8:46 am PDT (15:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 040° at 2 kt | −2 kt | -18 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 43 min | 8:44 am PDT (15:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 10 kt | +4 kt | -28 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 57 min | 8:58 am PDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 12 kt | +8 kt | -36 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 08 min | 9:09 am PDT (16:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 22 kt | +12 kt | -39 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 19 min | 9:20 am PDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 32 kt | +17 kt | -43 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 35 min | 9:36 am PDT (16:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| GTF | used from 99 nm out; 70 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 149 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| LWS | used from 248 nm out; 89 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| GEG | used from 347 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| YKM | used from 446 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| SEA | used from 496 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIL Billings, MT | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 3,662 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
| HWQ Harlowton, MT | 60 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,311 ft | ||||
| HLN Helena, MT | 149 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 3,877 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | 238 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| PUW Pullman/Moscow, WA | 357 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,700 ft | 2,566 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 456 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,188 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| EAT Wenatchee, WA | 486 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,248 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| ESW Easton, WA | 526 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,226 ft | ||||
| BFI Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,311 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:44 am PDT (15:44 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFI
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BIL, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain snow ice pellets, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain snow ice pellets, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 218 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
- 6/8925 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 218 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC), at BFI 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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: Billings Logan International, Boeing Fld/King County International.