Billings Logan International to Fort Smith Regional BIL → FSM
899 nautical miles (1,035 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 129°, about 119° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 28-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:44 am CDT (13:44 UTC). Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots; FSM 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: 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 300 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 160 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 40 to 240 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 60 to 330 nm out.
- 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), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 70 to 250 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 80 nm along the route.
- 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), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 330 to 869 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 10 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, BFF, GLD, GRI, SLN, ICT, TUL, FSM). 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 | 210° at 26 kt | +6 kt | 12 °C | 114 kt | 7 h 53 min | 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +2 kt | 14 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 37 min | 10:17 am CDT (15:17 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | 0 | 11 °C | 120 kt | 7 h 30 min | 10:10 am CDT (15:10 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +2 kt | 7 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 37 min | 10:17 am CDT (15:17 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +1 kt | 3 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 33 min | 10:13 am CDT (15:13 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −1 kt | -2 °C | 121 kt | 7 h 26 min | 10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −3 kt | -7 °C | 123 kt | 7 h 19 min | 9:59 am CDT (14:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | −4 kt | -8 °C | 124 kt | 7 h 15 min | 9:55 am CDT (14:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 34 kt | −4 kt | -20 °C | 124 kt | 7 h 15 min | 9:55 am CDT (14:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 47 kt | −12 kt | -32 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 49 min | 9:29 am CDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 55 kt | −24 kt | -38 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 15 min | 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 54 kt | −28 kt | -48 °C | 148 kt | 6 h 04 min | 8:44 am CDT (13:44 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 100 nm out; 119 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 150 nm out; 102 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 250 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| GLD | used from 400 nm out; 104 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| GRI | used from 500 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| SLN | used from 550 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| ICT | used from 649 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| TUL | used from 749 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| FSM | used from 849 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -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: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | 1,300 ft | 3,662 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 90 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation | from the west-northwest (300°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25 | 4 mi | 1,500 ft | 4,021 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| LSK Lusk, WY | 250 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 4,966 ft | ||||
| AIA Alliance, NE | 340 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 15 knots | 5 mi | none | 3,930 ft | 07:34 UTC |
| OGA Ogallala, NE | 410 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the east (090°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,279 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| CSB Cambridge, NE | 490 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots, gusting to 13 | 10+ mi | none | 2,414 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 550 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 699 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| TUL Tulsa, OK | 809 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 677 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| TQH Tahlequah, OK | 849 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 874 ft | ||||
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,966 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:44 am CDT (13:44 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for FSM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC), at FSM 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 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, Fort Smith Regional.