Billings Logan International to San Francisco International BIL → SFO
789 nautical miles (908 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 236°, about 226° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:50 am PDT (12:50 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots; SFO 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: 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 180 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 420 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 410 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 80 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 250 to 430 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 190 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
- E175 at 6,300 ft, 31 nm northwest, 10:20 pm MDT (04:20 UTC): overcast above 6,300 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 31. 280 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV KSUN/TM 0420/FL063/TP E175/SK OVC063-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY31
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- over KSUN
- Time
- 04:20 UTC
- Height
- at 6,300 ft
- Aircraft
- E175
- Sky
- overcast from 6,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 31
- E175 at 5,900 ft, 31 nm northwest, 9:29 pm MDT (03:29 UTC): a broken layer above 5,900 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 31. 280 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV KSUN/TM 0329/FL059/TP E175/SK BKN059-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY31
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- over KSUN
- Time
- 03:29 UTC
- Height
- at 5,900 ft
- Aircraft
- E175
- Sky
- a broken layer from 5,900 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 31
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (BIL, DLN, PIH, BOI, BAM, RNO, SAC, SFO). 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 | 050° at 4 kt | −4 kt | 2 °C | 124 kt | 6 h 22 min | 5:50 am PDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 030° at 3 kt | −3 kt | 2 °C | 123 kt | 6 h 25 min | 5:53 am PDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 3 kt | 0 | -2 °C | 120 kt | 6 h 34 min | 6:02 am PDT (13:02 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 8 kt | +8 kt | -4 °C | 112 kt | 7 h 03 min | 6:31 am PDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +16 kt | -7 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 35 min | 7:03 am PDT (14:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +21 kt | -10 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 58 min | 7:26 am PDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +26 kt | -13 °C | 94 kt | 8 h 24 min | 7:52 am PDT (14:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 31 kt | +30 kt | -16 °C | 90 kt | 8 h 46 min | 8:14 am PDT (15:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 37 kt | +34 kt | -25 °C | 86 kt | 9 h 10 min | 8:38 am PDT (15:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 47 kt | +46 kt | -31 °C | 74 kt | 10 h 40 min | 10:08 am PDT (17:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 55 kt | +55 kt | -35 °C | 65 kt | 12 h 08 min | 11:36 am PDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 51 kt | +50 kt | -42 °C | 70 kt | 11 h 16 min | 10:44 am PDT (17:44 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° | |
| DLN | used from 100 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° | ||
| PIH | used from 200 nm out; 46 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° | |
| BOI | used from 300 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 300/7 2° | 280/5 -4° | 210/16 -9° | 210/60 -20° | 210/75 -29° | 210/63 -32° | 220/64 -32° | 220/54 -39° | |
| BAM | used from 400 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 550 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 649 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| SFO | used from 749 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -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: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 1,200 ft | 3,662 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 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 | 130 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation | calm | 1.75 mi | 400 ft | 6,649 ft | 06:10 UTC |
| RXE Rexburg, ID | 180 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 4,862 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| JER Jerome, ID | 310 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 4,053 ft | 05:53 UTC | |
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 320 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,153 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| WMC Winnemucca, NV | 500 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,307 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | 619 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 639 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CCR Concord, CA | 759 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 10:56 pm PDT (05:56 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 SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:50 am PDT (12:50 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 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
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO is before sunrise there (7:14 am PDT (14:14 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, San Francisco International.