Bismarck Municipal to Billings Logan International BIS → BIL
329 nautical miles (378 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 256° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 UTC). Right now BIS is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 4 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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 C24C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 pm CDT (17:55 UTC). Over the first 0 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 121555 MKCC WST 121555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 24C VALID UNTIL 1755Z SD ND FROM GFK-FAR-PIR-DPR-50SE MOT-GFK INTSF AREA TS MOV FROM 21040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 309 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 BIS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 34,000 ft, 33 nm southeast, 10:10 am CDT (15:10 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIS UA /OV BIS120030/TM 1510/FL340/TP A320/SK TOP320/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIS
- Where
- 30 nm southeast (120°) of BIS
- Time
- 15:10 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- TOP320
- Turbulence
- none
- C414 at 9,000 ft, 39 nm southeast, 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 13 °C. At the departure end, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
7L2 UA /OV 7L2/TM 1448/FL090/TP C414/SK BASE100/TA 13/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through 7L2
- Where
- over 7L2
- Time
- 14:48 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C414
- Sky
- BASE100
- Temperature
- 13 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- A21N at 34,000 ft, 43 nm southeast, 9:34 am CDT (14:34 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 43 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIS UA /OV BIS130040/TM 1434/FL340/TP A21N/SK TOP360
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIS
- Where
- 40 nm southeast (130°) of BIS
- Time
- 14:34 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- TOP360
- C525 at 3,500 ft, 3 nm east, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 3 °C, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIS UA /OV BIS/TM 1343/FL035/TP C525/SK BASES 020 TOPS 055/TA 03/IC TR RIME/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIS
- Where
- over BIS
- Time
- 13:43 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C525
- Sky
- bases 2,000 ft tops 5,500 ft
- Temperature
- 3 °C
- Icing
- tr rime
- Remarks
- during the descent
- SR22 at 7,000 ft, 31 nm south, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 7,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIS UA /OV BIS170030/TM 1337/FL070/TP SR22/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIS
- Where
- 30 nm south (170°) of BIS
- Time
- 13:37 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- PA46 at 7,000 ft, 3 nm east, 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC): remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIS UA /OV BIS/TM 1311/FL070/TP PA46/SK TOPS 062/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIS
- Where
- over BIS
- Time
- 13:11 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Sky
- tops 6,200 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- C414 at 8,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 9:19 am CDT (14:19 UTC): no icing, 7 °C. 60 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK090020/TM 1419/FL080/TP C414/SK TOP080/TA 07/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- 20 nm east (090°) of DIK
- Time
- 14:19 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C414
- Sky
- TOP080
- Temperature
- 7 °C
- Icing
- none
- CL35 at 3,000 ft, 17 nm north, 10:07 am CDT (15:07 UTC): no icing. 80 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 1507/FL030/TP CL35/SK BASE030/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 15:07 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Sky
- BASE030
- Icing
- none
- CL35 at 45,000 ft, 45 nm north, 10:42 am CDT (15:42 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIL UA /OV BIL345045/TM 1542/FL450/TP CL35/TB CONS LGT CHOP /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIL
- Where
- 45 nm north (345°) of BIL
- Time
- 15:42 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop zlc
- C25A at 5,000 ft, 3 nm west, 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): light rime icing, 4 °C, remarks: lt rime in the descent. At the destination 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
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (DIK, MLS, BIL). 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 | 330° at 8 kt | +3 kt | 0 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 49 min | 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 7 kt | +5 kt | 0 °C | 115 kt | 2 h 52 min | 12:49 pm MDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 2 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 04 min | 1:01 pm MDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 0 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:09 pm MDT (19:09 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +19 kt | -2 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 15 min | 1:12 pm MDT (19:12 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +21 kt | -6 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 19 min | 1:16 pm MDT (19:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -10 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 24 min | 1:21 pm MDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | +24 kt | -13 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 26 min | 1:23 pm MDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 31 kt | +25 kt | -26 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 28 min | 1:25 pm MDT (19:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 47 kt | +41 kt | -34 °C | 79 kt | 4 h 10 min | 2:07 pm MDT (20:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 52 kt | +44 kt | -38 °C | 76 kt | 4 h 20 min | 2:17 pm MDT (20:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | +51 kt | -44 °C | 69 kt | 4 h 46 min | 2:43 pm MDT (20:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIK | used from 0 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 330/11 1° | 230/20 4° | 220/22 0° | 230/29 -12° | 240/27 -25° | 240/40 -34° | 230/49 -37° | 240/55 -44° | |
| MLS | used from 149 nm out; 41 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° | |
| BIL | used from 249 nm out; 55 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° |
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 | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 700 ft | 1,661 ft | 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC) |
| DIK Dickinson, ND | 80 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 2,592 ft | 15:20 UTC |
| BWW Bowman, ND | 110 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 2,965 ft | 15:55 UTC |
| BHK Baker, MT | 149 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 800 ft | 2,980 ft | 15:51 UTC |
| MLS Miles City, MT | 209 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 2,634 ft | 15:45 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 3,662 ft | 9:53 am MDT (15:53 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 BIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 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 marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BIL
- 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
The forecast for BIS, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 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 BIS 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC), at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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: Bismarck Municipal, Billings Logan International.