Plan a flight · Mon 8:15 am MDT (14:15 UTC)

Bozeman Yellowstone International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport BZN → DCA

1,557 nautical miles (1,792 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 093°, about 080° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BZN is low IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 10 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: 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

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 719 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 90 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 140 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 160 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 route from 1238 to 1458 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1368 to 1508 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1448 to 1528 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 BZN.

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

GLF4 descending, 0 nm northwest, 7:48 am MDT (13:48 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 1348/FLDURD/TP GLF4/SK 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
13:48 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
GLF4
Sky
at 4,700 ft
C340 descending, 0 nm northwest, 6:47 am MDT (12:47 UTC): light icing, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 1247/FLDURD/TP C340/SK 055/IC LGT RM/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
12:47 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C340
Sky
at 5,500 ft
Icing
light remarks
Remarks
smooth
C25A at 5,000 ft, 10 nm north, 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): light rime icing, 4 °C, remarks: lt rime in the descent. 110 nm along the route, 10 nm north 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
A321 at 35,000 ft, 42 nm north, 7:38 am MDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence. 449 nm along the route, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MBG UA /OV MBG/TM 1338/FL350/TP A321/SK TOP310/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MBG
Where
over MBG
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP310
Turbulence
none
SF50 at 4,000 ft, 25 nm south, 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 469 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 1347/FL040/TP SF50/SK BASE008-TOP040/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
over PIR
Time
13:47 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
BASE008-TOP040
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
C25A at 7,500 ft, 37 nm north, 6:31 am MDT (12:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 589 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATY UA /OV ATY/TM 1231/FL075/TP C25A/SK BASEUNKN/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATY
Where
over ATY
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Sky
baseunkn
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
UAL1095 at 36,000 ft, 38 nm south, 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): no turbulence, -41 °C, wind 253° at 52 knots. 629 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1095 4338N 09646W 1300 F360 MS41 253/052KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
SF50 at 13,000 ft, 28 nm north, 7:36 am MDT (13:36 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 13,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 679 nm along the route, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RWF UA /OV RWF/TM 1336/FL130/TP SF50/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through RWF
Where
over RWF
Time
13:36 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
BE36 at 6,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 7:12 am MDT (13:12 UTC): no turbulence. 729 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FRM UA /OV FRM/TM 1312/FL060/TP BE36/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FRM
Where
over FRM
Time
13:12 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Turbulence
none
B752 at 34,000 ft, 33 nm south, 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 879 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DBQ UA /OV DBQ300020/TM 1223/FL340/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DBQ
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of DBQ
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
occasional light chop
C510 at 17,000 ft, 15 nm north, 7:27 am MDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 909 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV LNR/TM 1327/FL170/TP C510/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over LNR
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
C510
Turbulence
none
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 15 nm north, 7:27 am MDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 909 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV 0WI4/TM 1327/FL200/TP PC12/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over 0WI4
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
none
B39M at 36,000 ft, 10 nm south, 7:18 am MDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. 1018 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
B39M at 34,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 8:01 am MDT (14:01 UTC): no turbulence. 1058 nm along the route, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIV UA /OV PMM300030/TM 1401/FL340/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIV
Where
30 nm northwest (300°) of PMM
Time
14:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 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 16 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ABR, FSD, MCW, LSE, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE, AGC, EKN, RIC). 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	250° at 15 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	11 h 42 min	9:57 pm EDT (01:57 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 13 kt	−12 kt	6 °C	132 kt	11 h 48 min	10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	−15 kt	12 °C	135 kt	11 h 32 min	9:47 pm EDT (01:47 UTC)
9,500 ft	260° at 19 kt	−18 kt	7 °C	138 kt	11 h 17 min	9:32 pm EDT (01:32 UTC)
11,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	−20 kt	4 °C	140 kt	11 h 07 min	9:22 pm EDT (01:22 UTC)
13,500 ft	260° at 22 kt	−22 kt	0 °C	142 kt	10 h 58 min	9:13 pm EDT (01:13 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 24 kt	−23 kt	-4 °C	143 kt	10 h 53 min	9:08 pm EDT (01:08 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 25 kt	−25 kt	-9 °C	145 kt	10 h 44 min	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-10 °C	145 kt	10 h 44 min	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 33 kt	−30 kt	-22 °C	150 kt	10 h 23 min	8:38 pm EDT (00:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 40 kt	−37 kt	-35 °C	157 kt	9 h 55 min	8:10 pm EDT (00:10 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-39 °C	164 kt	9 h 30 min	7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 48 kt	−49 kt	-46 °C	169 kt	9 h 13 min	7:28 pm EDT (23:28 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
BIL	used from 0 nm out; 84 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°
MLS	used from 200 nm out; 59 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°
RAP	used from 300 nm out; 72 nm from the line		310/18 6°	270/15 6°	260/20 2°	240/28 -11°	240/42 -23°	240/47 -35°	230/47 -36°	240/56 -44°
PIR	used from 399 nm out; 50 nm from the line		300/15 10°	270/10 10°	220/18 4°	220/36 -11°	230/43 -21°	240/48 -33°	240/51 -37°	240/55 -44°
ABR	used from 499 nm out; 53 nm from the line	020/9	230/5 12°	190/14 11°	200/25 5°	230/37 -11°	230/50 -23°	240/39 -34°	240/49 -38°	240/55 -46°
FSD	used from 549 nm out; 67 nm from the line	260/9	210/16 18°	220/27 14°	230/28 6°	240/39 -9°	240/48 -22°	260/52 -32°	260/61 -38°	260/60 -46°
MCW	used from 699 nm out; 60 nm from the line	220/19	210/29 20°	230/35 13°	250/35 5°	250/33 -9°	260/44 -21°	260/46 -33°	270/58 -37°	270/59 -46°
LSE	used from 799 nm out; 48 nm from the line	240/16	230/27 20°	250/35 12°	260/28 5°	260/30 -9°	260/37 -21°	260/38 -36°	280/44 -37°	280/52 -47°
DBQ	used from 899 nm out; 44 nm from the line	250/26	240/32 19°	250/35 11°	260/37 5°	270/35 -9°	270/40 -21°	270/43 -35°	280/49 -37°	280/58 -46°
JOT	used from 948 nm out; 74 nm from the line	230/30	250/26 16°	270/27 11°	280/34 5°	290/32 -8°	280/37 -21°	280/40 -36°	290/46 -37°	290/56 -47°
MKG	used from 1048 nm out; 70 nm from the line	240/27	240/26 15°	270/27 9°	280/27 5°	280/28 -9°	280/32 -22°	270/41 -38°	290/44 -41°	300/60 -48°
FWA	used from 1098 nm out; 53 nm from the line	250/18	260/22 15°	260/27 7°	290/26 6°	290/28 -8°	290/39 -20°	280/36 -37°	290/54 -39°	310/60 -48°
CLE	used from 1248 nm out; 49 nm from the line	280/17	270/17 14°	280/22 10°	290/26 4°	290/25 -8°	280/31 -21°	280/35 -36°	280/43 -44°	300/53 -48°
AGC	used from 1348 nm out; 34 nm from the line	270/15	320/17 14°	320/22 9°	340/23 4°	310/25 -8°	290/30 -19°	280/40 -36°	290/49 -45°	300/53 -49°
EKN	used from 1448 nm out; 65 nm from the line		320/20 15°	340/24 10°	340/25 4°	310/28 -7°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -36°	300/49 -43°	310/48 -50°
RIC	used from 1498 nm out; 98 nm from the line	350/24	350/28 14°	340/25 8°	340/26 5°	340/40 -6°	340/44 -19°	340/48 -33°	330/45 -42°	310/38 -50°

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
BZN Bozeman, MT	departure	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	2 mi	200 ft	4,473 ft	8:03 am MDT (14:03 UTC)
BIL Billings, MT	110 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	3,700 ft	3,662 ft	13:53 UTC
BKX Brookings, SD	609 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the east (080°) at 8 knots	2.5 mi	300 ft	1,647 ft	13:56 UTC
AEL Albert Lea, MN	769 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 17,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,261 ft	13:55 UTC
DEH Decorah, IA	839 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	VFR	variable at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,157 ft	13:55 UTC
JVL Janesville, WI	968 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 23,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	807 ft	13:45 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	1108 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	777 ft	13:55 UTC
MFD Mansfield, OH	1278 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	1,297 ft	13:52 UTC
JYO Leesburg, VA	1528 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,300 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	3,300 ft	389 ft	13:55 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet	from the north (350°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	14 ft	9:52 am EDT (13:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,473 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DCA

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for BZN, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, overcast at 400 feet
From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 1348 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 1348 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at BZN 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA is after sunset there (6:34 pm EDT (22:34 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Bozeman Yellowstone International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.