Billings Logan International to Detroit Metro Wayne County BIL → DTW
1,104 nautical miles (1,271 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 092°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:39 pm EDT (17:39 UTC). Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots; DTW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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
- SIGMET C17C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 am MDT (12:55 UTC). Over the route from 288 to 348 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 121055 MKCC WST 121055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17C VALID UNTIL 1255Z SD ND FROM 20NW BIS-60E BIS-20WNW PIR-20SW DPR-20NW BIS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- 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 567 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 30 nm of the route.
- 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 last 70 nm of 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 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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB, MKG, FWA, CLE). 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 | 250° at 13 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 8 h 26 min | 3:53 pm EDT (19:53 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 22 min | 3:49 pm EDT (19:49 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −14 kt | 11 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 14 min | 3:41 pm EDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 8 °C | 136 kt | 8 h 07 min | 3:34 pm EDT (19:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −19 kt | 4 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 57 min | 3:24 pm EDT (19:24 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | −20 kt | 0 °C | 140 kt | 7 h 53 min | 3:20 pm EDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | −22 kt | -4 °C | 142 kt | 7 h 46 min | 3:13 pm EDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | −23 kt | -9 °C | 143 kt | 7 h 43 min | 3:10 pm EDT (19:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 26 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 7 h 43 min | 3:10 pm EDT (19:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 32 kt | −28 kt | -22 °C | 148 kt | 7 h 28 min | 2:55 pm EDT (18:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 38 kt | −34 kt | -35 °C | 154 kt | 7 h 10 min | 2:37 pm EDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 46 kt | −43 kt | -41 °C | 163 kt | 6 h 46 min | 2:13 pm EDT (18:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 58 kt | −58 kt | -48 °C | 178 kt | 6 h 12 min | 1:39 pm EDT (17:39 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° | |
| MLS | used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| DIK | used from 199 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 298 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| ABR | used from 348 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| AXN | used from 497 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| MSP | used from 597 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| LSE | used from 696 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| GRB | used from 796 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKG | used from 895 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| FWA | used from 1044 nm out; 99 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| CLE | used from 1094 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
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) |
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 338 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (090°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,716 ft | 11:10 UTC |
| ATY Watertown, SD | 487 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,749 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FBL Faribault, MN | 647 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,060 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CMY Sparta, WI | 766 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 19,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 839 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| UNU Juneau, WI | 855 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 934 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 965 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 1084 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 839 ft | 10:53 UTC | |
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 8 mi | none | 645 ft | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,662 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:39 pm EDT (17:39 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DTW
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Tue 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
The forecast for BIL, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain snow, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
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 BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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, Detroit Metro Wayne County.