Central IL Rgnl/Bloomington-Normal Airport to Portland International BMI → PDX
1,498 nautical miles (1,724 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 296° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 1:46 pm PDT (20:46 UTC). Right now BMI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots; PDX is 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: 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 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 70 to 429 nm out.
- 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 469 to 1238 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 679 to 829 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 719 to 839 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 789 to 949 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 829 to 1328 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 1079 to 1488 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1268 to 1298 nm out.
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 BMI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 48 nm northeast, 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 48 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- 23 nm north (010°) of RBS
- Time
- 07:05 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
- E73L descending, 43 nm north, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 1019 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E73L
- Remarks
- breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
- B737 , 43 nm north, 12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. 1019 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 05:31 UTC
- Height
- at BURD
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
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 13 forecast points nearest it (SPI, BRL, DSM, OMA, FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, PDX). 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 | 200° at 12 kt | 0 | 16 °C | 120 kt | 12 h 29 min | 1:46 pm PDT (20:46 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 11 kt | +2 kt | 11 °C | 118 kt | 12 h 42 min | 1:59 pm PDT (20:59 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | +3 kt | 6 °C | 117 kt | 12 h 48 min | 2:05 pm PDT (21:05 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | +6 kt | 2 °C | 114 kt | 13 h 08 min | 2:25 pm PDT (21:25 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +8 kt | -1 °C | 112 kt | 13 h 22 min | 2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | +10 kt | -5 °C | 110 kt | 13 h 37 min | 2:54 pm PDT (21:54 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +11 kt | -9 °C | 109 kt | 13 h 45 min | 3:02 pm PDT (22:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 20 kt | +12 kt | -12 °C | 108 kt | 13 h 52 min | 3:09 pm PDT (22:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 24 kt | +15 kt | -23 °C | 105 kt | 14 h 16 min | 3:33 pm PDT (22:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 32 kt | +23 kt | -35 °C | 97 kt | 15 h 27 min | 4:44 pm PDT (23:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 43 kt | +36 kt | -39 °C | 84 kt | 17 h 50 min | 7:07 pm PDT (02:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 49 kt | +42 kt | -45 °C | 78 kt | 19 h 12 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPI | used from 0 nm out; 49 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° |
| BRL | used from 50 nm out; 33 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° |
| DSM | used from 150 nm out; 52 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° |
| OMA | used from 300 nm out; 67 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° |
| FSD | used from 350 nm out; 55 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° |
| ONL | used from 399 nm out; 47 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° | |
| PIR | used from 499 nm out; 61 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° | |
| RAP | used from 599 nm out; 39 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° | |
| BIL | used from 799 nm out; 108 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 999 nm out; 51 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° | ||
| LWS | used from 1198 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| YKM | used from 1348 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| PDX | used from 1448 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 030/7 1° | 020/12 -6° | 020/29 -9° | 010/69 -16° | 010/81 -25° | 360/83 -40° | 360/67 -46° | 320/29 -42° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC) |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 40 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 220 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 360 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 519 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots | 2 mi | 300 ft | 2,032 ft | 08:05 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 659 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 knots | 0.75 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 08:06 UTC |
| GCC Gillette, WY | 769 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 4,365 ft | 08:01 UTC |
| POY Powell, WY | 909 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 19 knots, gusting to 24 | 4 mi | 300 ft | 5,096 ft | 07:50 UTC |
| DLN Dillon, MT | 1079 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 2,200 ft | 5,244 ft | 08:06 UTC |
| PDT Pendleton, OR | 1338 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,494 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 1438 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 246 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| PDX Portland, OR | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 30 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,244 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PDX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:46 pm PDT (20:46 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PDX
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BMI, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
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 BMI 6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC), at PDX 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 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: Central IL Rgnl/Bloomington-Normal Airport, Portland International.