Billings Logan International to Eppley Airfield BIL → OMA
612 nautical miles (705 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 112°, about 102° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:07 pm CDT (18:07 UTC). Right now BIL is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; OMA is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 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
- 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 494 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
- 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 20 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
- C25A at 5,000 ft, 3 nm west, 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): light rime icing, 4 °C, remarks: lt rime in the descent. At the departure end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIL UA /OV 100006/TM 1300/FL050/TP C25A/TA 4/IC LT RIME/RM LT RIME IN THE DESCENT
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIL
- Where
- wind from 100° at 6 knots
- Time
- 13:00 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C25A
- Temperature
- 4 °C
- Icing
- lt rime
- Remarks
- lt rime in the descent
- UAL1095 at 36,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC): light turbulence, -38 °C, wind 236° at 61 knots. 296 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1095 4328N 10223W 1334 F360 MS38 236/061KT TB LIGHT SK IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B38M at 17,000 ft, 39 nm southwest, 6:41 am MDT (12:41 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LNK UA /OV LNK/TM 1241/FL170/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LNK
- Where
- over LNK
- Time
- 12:41 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ONL, OMA). 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 | 280° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 9 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 38 min | 1:51 pm CDT (18:51 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | −13 kt | 10 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 36 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 7 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 36 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −13 kt | 4 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 36 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | −13 kt | 0 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 36 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −14 kt | -5 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 34 min | 1:47 pm CDT (18:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −15 kt | -10 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 32 min | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 34 kt | −15 kt | -11 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 32 min | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 43 kt | −22 kt | -23 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 19 min | 1:32 pm CDT (18:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 55 kt | −34 kt | -33 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 58 min | 1:11 pm CDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 60 kt | −35 kt | -37 °C | 155 kt | 3 h 57 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 61 kt | −37 kt | -45 °C | 157 kt | 3 h 54 min | 1:07 pm CDT (18:07 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | L/V | 250/11 -1° | 240/20 -2° | 230/28 -15° | 220/28 -28° | 220/53 -34° | 220/55 -39° | 220/63 -44° | |
| MLS | used from 99 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 320/9 -2° | 270/14 0° | 260/22 -1° | 220/30 -14° | 210/43 -26° | 230/53 -34° | 230/54 -38° | 230/59 -44° | |
| RAP | used from 148 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 310/18 6° | 270/15 6° | 260/20 2° | 240/28 -11° | 240/42 -23° | 240/47 -35° | 230/47 -36° | 240/56 -44° | |
| PIR | used from 346 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 300/15 10° | 270/10 10° | 220/18 4° | 220/36 -11° | 230/43 -21° | 240/48 -33° | 240/51 -37° | 240/55 -44° | |
| ONL | used from 395 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 270/16 17° | 250/25 13° | 230/34 7° | 230/46 -9° | 240/57 -22° | 250/72 -31° | 250/87 -36° | 250/75 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 543 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 210/23 | 240/34 20° | 230/40 14° | 220/43 7° | 240/38 -8° | 250/47 -21° | 270/70 -29° | 270/79 -36° | 270/68 -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 | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 3,662 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| SPF Spearfish, SD | 217 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 1,600 ft | 3,933 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 257 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 4 knots | 3 mi | 700 ft | 3,203 ft | 13:56 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 365 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 2,724 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| VTN Valentine, NE | 385 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 2,595 ft | 14:06 UTC |
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 474 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,033 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| OFK Norfolk, NE | 533 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Weather: haze | variable at 3 knots | 5 mi | none | 1,572 ft | 13:56 UTC |
| SCB Scribner, NE | 573 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,324 ft | ||||
| OMA Omaha, NE | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,933 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At OMA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:07 pm CDT (18:07 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for OMA
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC), at OMA 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 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, Eppley Airfield.