Billings Logan International to Sacramento Mather Airport BIL → MHR
714 nautical miles (821 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 237°, about 227° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:11 am PDT (18:11 UTC). Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots; MHR is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 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: 6 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 327 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 357 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 387 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 198 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 664 nm along 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
- CRJ7 at 4,800 ft, 45 nm southeast, 6:10 am MDT (12:10 UTC): overcast above 4,800 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 21 pih. 238 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIH UA /OV KPIH/TM 1210/FL048/TP CRJ7/SK OVC048-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY21 PIH
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIH
- Where
- over KPIH
- Time
- 12:10 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 4,800 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 21 pih
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, DLN, PIH, BOI, BAM, RNO, SAC). 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 6 kt | −2 kt | 1 °C | 122 kt | 5 h 51 min | 11:11 am PDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 5 kt | 0 | 0 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 57 min | 11:17 am PDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 7 kt | +6 kt | -3 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 16 min | 11:36 am PDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 13 kt | +13 kt | -5 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 40 min | 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +20 kt | -8 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 08 min | 12:28 pm PDT (19:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -11 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 17 min | 12:37 pm PDT (19:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -15 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 31 min | 12:51 pm PDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -18 °C | 93 kt | 7 h 41 min | 1:01 pm PDT (20:01 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -27 °C | 94 kt | 7 h 36 min | 12:56 pm PDT (19:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 42 kt | +40 kt | -32 °C | 80 kt | 8 h 56 min | 2:16 pm PDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 50 kt | +48 kt | -36 °C | 72 kt | 9 h 55 min | 3:15 pm PDT (22:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 48 kt | +47 kt | -42 °C | 73 kt | 9 h 47 min | 3:07 pm PDT (22:07 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° | |
| DLN | used from 99 nm out; 76 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° | ||
| PIH | used from 198 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| BOI | used from 297 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 320/11 1° | 280/8 -5° | 220/14 -11° | 200/60 -19° | 190/66 -31° | 210/46 -32° | 220/50 -33° | 220/43 -39° | |
| BAM | used from 397 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 280/9 -2° | 260/18 -8° | 190/47 -19° | 200/50 -29° | 210/56 -29° | 220/54 -34° | 220/45 -42° | ||
| RNO | used from 545 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 010/6 | 270/12 -3° | 220/26 -10° | 280/13 -19° | 350/44 -24° | 320/30 -32° | 260/22 -36° | 240/24 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 694 nm out; 19 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
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: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 3,662 ft | 5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC) |
| RED Red Lodge, MT | 50 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5,762 ft | ||||
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 129 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet | calm | 9 mi | 1,100 ft | 6,649 ft | 11:50 UTC |
| RXE Rexburg, ID | 178 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 4,862 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| AOC Arco, ID | 248 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,334 ft | ||||
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 327 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 4,153 ft | 12:03 UTC |
| WMC Winnemucca, NV | 496 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,307 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| LOL Lovelock, NV | 555 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 3,907 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | 625 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 4,414 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 644 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| MHR Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 98 ft | 12:55 am PDT (07:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,649 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MHR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:11 am PDT (18:11 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MHR
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC), at MHR 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 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, Sacramento Mather Airport.
