Billings Logan International to Kansas City International BIL → MCI
724 nautical miles (834 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 118°, about 108° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC). Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots; MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22. 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). Over the first 447 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- 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 route from 149 to 248 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 last 347 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
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, ONL, GRI, OMA, MKC). 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 | 250° at 26 kt | −15 kt | 18 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 22 min | 10:23 am CDT (15:23 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | −14 kt | 15 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 24 min | 10:25 am CDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −12 kt | 9 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 29 min | 10:30 am CDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −9 kt | 5 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 37 min | 10:38 am CDT (15:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −7 kt | 1 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 42 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −7 kt | -4 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 42 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −7 kt | -9 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 42 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | −7 kt | -10 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 42 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 38 kt | −4 kt | -22 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 50 min | 10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 48 kt | −24 kt | -32 °C | 144 kt | 5 h 02 min | 10:03 am CDT (15:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 52 kt | −27 kt | -37 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 56 min | 9:57 am CDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 55 kt | −30 kt | -46 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 50 min | 9:51 am CDT (14:51 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 99 nm out; 97 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° | |
| RAP | used from 149 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 347 nm out; 106 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 496 nm out; 19 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 595 nm out; 65 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 645 nm out; 66 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° |
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 1,900 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 3,662 ft | 3:53 am MDT (09:53 UTC) |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 89 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 4,021 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| GCC Gillette, WY | 159 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 4,365 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 258 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: light rain, fog | from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| IEN Pine Ridge, SD | 308 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,332 ft | ||||
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 417 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog | from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots | 0.25 mi | 300 ft | 2,588 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| ODX Ord, NE | 486 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,070 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 536 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 595 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 704 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| MCI Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,365 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MCI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MCI
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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 MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 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, Kansas City International.