Billings Logan International to Louisville Muhammad Ali International BIL → SDF
1,111 nautical miles (1,279 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 106°, about 096° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC). Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 1,085 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 387 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 129 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 149 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). Over the route from 89 to 228 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 119 to 179 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 536 to 813 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 99 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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, EVV, LOU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 8 h 29 min | 10:04 am EDT (14:04 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −5 kt | 13 °C | 125 kt | 8 h 53 min | 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −8 kt | 13 °C | 128 kt | 8 h 41 min | 10:16 am EDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −10 kt | 9 °C | 130 kt | 8 h 33 min | 10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −10 kt | 6 °C | 130 kt | 8 h 33 min | 10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −12 kt | 2 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 25 min | 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −14 kt | -3 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 17 min | 9:52 am EDT (13:52 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −16 kt | -7 °C | 136 kt | 8 h 10 min | 9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | −17 kt | -8 °C | 137 kt | 8 h 07 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 28 kt | −22 kt | -20 °C | 142 kt | 7 h 49 min | 9:24 am EDT (13:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 35 kt | −27 kt | -34 °C | 147 kt | 7 h 33 min | 9:08 am EDT (13:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 49 kt | −45 kt | -40 °C | 165 kt | 6 h 44 min | 8:19 am EDT (12:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 53 kt | −49 kt | -49 °C | 169 kt | 6 h 34 min | 8:09 am EDT (12:09 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; 71 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 149 nm out; 86 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° | |
| PIR | used from 298 nm out; 50 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° | |
| ONL | used from 397 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 496 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| OMA | used from 546 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| DSM | used from 645 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 744 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| SPI | used from 843 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| EVV | used from 992 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| LOU | used from 1042 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
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 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 1,200 ft | 3,662 ft | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 208 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| PHP Philip, SD | 317 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,209 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 397 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 10 knots | 9 mi | 400 ft | 2,032 ft | 05:11 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 506 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 565 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 694 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| FSW Fort Madison, IA | 813 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 721 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 903 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| RSV Robinson, IL | 1012 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 1 knots | 10+ mi | none | 461 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC)
Wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.