Bozeman Yellowstone International to Joe Foss Field BZN → FSD
628 nautical miles (723 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 097°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BZN is low IFR, wind calm; FSD is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 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
- SIGMET 3W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 130 to 229 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3W VALID UNTIL 0255Z MT WY FROM 10WSW MLS-70E DDY-20N LAR-50E BPI-30NE BIL-10WSW MLS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 479 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 339 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 40 to 160 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), from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Near the route, 110 nm along 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 BZN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 110° at 11 kt | +11 kt | 13 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 46 min | 2:19 am CDT (07:19 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 150° at 9 kt | +6 kt | 12 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 31 min | 2:04 am CDT (07:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 190° at 15 kt | 0 | 7 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 14 min | 1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 200° at 23 kt | −4 kt | 4 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 04 min | 1:37 am CDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | −9 kt | 0 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 52 min | 1:25 am CDT (06:25 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −15 kt | -4 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 39 min | 1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 29 min | 1:02 am CDT (06:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | −21 kt | -9 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 27 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | −29 kt | -21 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 13 min | 12:46 am CDT (05:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 48 kt | −27 kt | -36 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 16 min | 12:49 am CDT (05:49 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 60 kt | −38 kt | -43 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 58 min | 12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 66 kt | −52 kt | -49 °C | 172 kt | 3 h 39 min | 12:12 am CDT (05:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIL | used from 0 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 080/24 | 130/14 -1° | 180/33 0° | 210/43 -10° | 220/58 -21° | 200/55 -36° | 220/75 -44° | 240/83 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 199 nm out; 74 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° | |
| RAP | used from 249 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 399 nm out; 44 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| FSD | used from 548 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
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: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light snow, mist | calm | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 4,473 ft | 7:25 pm MDT (01:25 UTC) |
| LVM Livingston, MT | 30 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the east (080°) at 15 knots | 2.5 mi | 400 ft | 4,659 ft | 01:11 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 110 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north (010°) at 12 knots | 4 mi | 800 ft | 3,662 ft | 01:23 UTC |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 309 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| SPF Spearfish, SD | 319 nm out, 25 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the east (080°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 3,933 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| PIR Pierre, SD | 469 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 1,744 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 568 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,304 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,659 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for BZN, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ½ mile, snow, fog, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, 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, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm MDT (23:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 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 BZN 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FSD is before sunrise there (7:37 am CDT (12:37 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: Bozeman Yellowstone International, Joe Foss Field.