Billings Logan International to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport BIL → MSP
648 nautical miles (746 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 089°, about 079° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:08 am CDT (07:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 10 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 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: 732 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 1C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 pm MDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 159 to 249 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120255 MKCC WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1C VALID UNTIL 0455Z SD ND MT WY FROM 30WSW DIK-50NW DPR-60WNW RAP-50ENE SHR-30WSW DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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 349 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- 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 route from 429 to 528 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
- A306 at 4,700 ft, 4 nm west, 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIL
- Where
- 1 nm west (280°) of BIL
- Time
- 00:51 UTC
- Height
- at 4,700 ft
- Aircraft
- A306
- Sky
- base 4,700 ft
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 7 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, AXN, MSP). 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 | 180° at 12 kt | +1 kt | 6 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 27 min | 3:52 am CDT (08:52 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 16 kt | −6 kt | 10 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 09 min | 3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −13 kt | 7 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 52 min | 3:17 am CDT (08:17 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −22 kt | 4 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:59 am CDT (07:59 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | −25 kt | 0 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 28 min | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | −27 kt | -4 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 24 min | 2:49 am CDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 36 kt | −29 kt | -9 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 21 min | 2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 36 kt | −30 kt | -10 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 19 min | 2:44 am CDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 37 kt | −31 kt | -21 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 17 min | 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 37 kt | −29 kt | -37 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 21 min | 2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | −44 kt | -42 °C | 164 kt | 3 h 57 min | 2:22 am CDT (07:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 59 kt | −54 kt | -48 °C | 174 kt | 3 h 43 min | 2:08 am CDT (07:08 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 50 nm out; 52 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° | |
| DIK | used from 199 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| PIR | used from 299 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ABR | used from 349 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| AXN | used from 498 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 100/14 | 250/21 14° | 240/24 12° | 240/31 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/40 -21° | 250/42 -36° | 260/48 -45° | 260/53 -50° |
| MSP | used from 598 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
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 1,000 feet Weather: light rain, light snow | from the north (360°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 3,662 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
| HEI Hettinger, ND | 249 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 11 knots | 2.5 mi | 600 ft | 2,705 ft | 03:02 UTC |
| LEM Lemmon, SD | 269 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,572 ft | ||||
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 339 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 1,716 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| ABR Aberdeen, SD | 429 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,301 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| VVV Ortonville, MN | 508 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,101 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| AQP Appleton, MN | 528 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 17,000 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 1,021 ft | 03:14 UTC |
| LJF Litchfield, MN | 588 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,139 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 841 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 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 MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:08 am CDT (07:08 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
The forecast for BIL, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, freezing fog, a broken layer at 500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet and more above
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at BIL 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.