Plan a flight · Sun 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC)

Bismarck Municipal to Boeing Fld/King County International BIS → BFI

879 nautical miles (1,011 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 274° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:43 pm PDT (06:43 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BIS is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25; BFI is VFR, wind variable at 6 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 route from 80 to 539 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 609 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 349 to 669 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 519 to 759 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 25,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 BIS.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B38M at 32,000 ft, 43 nm north, 6:12 pm CDT (23:12 UTC): light chop turbulence. 80 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOT UA /OV MOT225061/TM 2312/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOT
Where
61 nm southwest (225°) of MOT
Time
23:12 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
BE20 at 3,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 80 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2256/FL030/TP BE20/SK BASE031/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
over DIK
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
BASE031
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
TBM7 at 3,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 4:55 pm CDT (21:55 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 5 °C. 80 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2155/FL030/TP TBM7/SK BASE030-TOP043/ BASE060-TOP081/TA 05/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
over DIK
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
TBM7
Sky
BASE030-TOP043; BASE060-TOP081
Temperature
5 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
A319 at 4,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 4:13 pm CDT (21:13 UTC): no icing, overcast from 4,000 ft to 7,000 ft. 429 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV GTF030005/TM 2113/FL040/TP A319/SK OVC040-TOPS070/IC NEG ICE
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
5 nm northeast (030°) of GTF
Time
21:13 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft, tops 7,000 ft
Icing
no ice
B739 at 3,700 ft, 49 nm south, 4:58 pm CDT (21:58 UTC): overcast above 3,700 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 549 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 2158/FL037/TP B739/SK OVC037/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
21:58 UTC
Height
at 3,700 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
overcast from 3,700 ft
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 (DIK, MLS, GGW, GTF, GPI, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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	070° at 15 kt	−15 kt	1 °C	135 kt	6 h 31 min	11:43 pm PDT (06:43 UTC)
6,500 ft	070° at 14 kt	−14 kt	0 °C	134 kt	6 h 34 min	11:46 pm PDT (06:46 UTC)
8,500 ft	090° at 9 kt	−10 kt	-2 °C	130 kt	6 h 46 min	11:58 pm PDT (06:58 UTC)
10,500 ft	130° at 5 kt	−5 kt	-5 °C	125 kt	7 h 02 min	12:14 am PDT (07:14 UTC)
12,500 ft	190° at 6 kt	0	-7 °C	120 kt	7 h 20 min	12:32 am PDT (07:32 UTC)
14,500 ft	200° at 10 kt	+3 kt	-10 °C	117 kt	7 h 31 min	12:43 am PDT (07:43 UTC)
16,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	+5 kt	-13 °C	115 kt	7 h 39 min	12:51 am PDT (07:51 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	210° at 18 kt	+7 kt	-16 °C	113 kt	7 h 47 min	12:59 am PDT (07:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 28 kt	+17 kt	-25 °C	103 kt	8 h 32 min	1:44 am PDT (08:44 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 42 kt	+27 kt	-37 °C	93 kt	9 h 27 min	2:39 am PDT (09:39 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 46 kt	+35 kt	-43 °C	85 kt	10 h 20 min	3:32 am PDT (10:32 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 45 kt	+38 kt	-46 °C	82 kt	10 h 43 min	3:55 am PDT (10:55 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
DIK	used from 0 nm out; 60 nm from the line		110/15 6°	200/17 5°	230/31 1°	240/47 -10°	240/52 -20°	230/52 -36°	240/57 -45°	250/67 -51°
MLS	used from 150 nm out; 62 nm from the line		120/22 5°	170/18 4°	200/33 1°	230/49 -10°	230/58 -21°	220/54 -37°	230/64 -44°	250/74 -49°
GGW	used from 200 nm out; 55 nm from the line		090/18 0°	140/12 -2°	150/13 -3°	200/35 -12°	230/56 -22°	240/75 -37°	240/81 -46°	240/78 -49°
GTF	used from 349 nm out; 62 nm from the line		070/21	080/18 -6°	120/5 -5°	180/30 -14°	200/53 -24°	210/80 -38°	220/83 -44°	230/68 -46°
GPI	used from 499 nm out; 46 nm from the line		060/19 -3°	110/11 -8°	130/6 -8°	200/40 -19°	190/58 -28°	200/101 -39°	220/73 -43°	230/41 -43°
GEG	used from 599 nm out; 62 nm from the line		050/18 -2°	060/19 -8°	L/V -11°	160/11 -24°	190/17 -31°	200/19 -35°	220/14 -37°	250/11 -41°
YKM	used from 749 nm out; 73 nm from the line	030/16	020/18 0°	030/30 -8°	030/23 -13°	020/40 -23°	010/73 -29°	010/54 -36°	360/29 -37°	330/16 -40°
SEA	used from 799 nm out; 56 nm from the line	360/9	350/10 1°	010/10 -5°	030/20 -11°	020/60 -17°	010/86 -26°	360/90 -40°	010/68 -42°	360/31 -43°

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
BIS Bismarck, ND	departure	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	1,400 ft	1,661 ft	6:52 pm CDT (23:52 UTC)
DIK Dickinson, ND	80 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (050°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24	8 mi	500 ft	2,592 ft	23:56 UTC
GDV Glendive, MT	170 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the northeast (050°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23	4 mi	600 ft	2,458 ft	23:56 UTC
JDN Jordan, MT	260 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	from the northeast (040°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22		none	2,667 ft	23:48 UTC
GTF Great Falls, MT	439 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots	0.75 mi	400 ft	3,680 ft	23:53 UTC
CII Choteau, MT	469 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	no report just now				3,946 ft
THM Thompson Falls, MT	599 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				2,467 ft
SFF Spokane, WA	679 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	6,500 ft	1,956 ft	23:53 UTC
EPH Ephrata, WA	769 nm out, 21 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet	from the east (080°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	1,276 ft	23:53 UTC
EAT Wenatchee, WA	799 nm out, 15 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	9,000 ft	1,248 ft	23:55 UTC
BFI Seattle, WA	destination	VFR	variable at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	21 ft	4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,946 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:43 pm PDT (06:43 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for BFI

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for BIS, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
30% chance between Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist
From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 900 feet
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist

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 BIS 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC), at BFI 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFI is before sunrise there (7:23 am PDT (14:23 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

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Bismarck Municipal, Boeing Fld/King County International.