Bozeman Yellowstone International to Smyrna Airport BZN → MQY
1,255 nautical miles (1,444 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 109°, about 096° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:53 pm CDT (18:53 UTC). Right now BZN is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots; MQY is IFR, 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 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 568 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 189 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 219 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). Near the route, 289 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 538 to 956 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 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 BZN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 12 forecast points nearest it (DLN, BIL, MLS, RAP, ONL, GRI, OMA, MKC, COU, STL, CGI, BNA). 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 | 250° at 22 kt | −16 kt | 17 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 14 min | 3:16 pm CDT (20:16 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 13 °C | 133 kt | 9 h 26 min | 3:28 pm CDT (20:28 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −12 kt | 9 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 30 min | 3:32 pm CDT (20:32 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −11 kt | 5 °C | 131 kt | 9 h 35 min | 3:37 pm CDT (20:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −12 kt | 1 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 30 min | 3:32 pm CDT (20:32 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −13 kt | -4 °C | 133 kt | 9 h 26 min | 3:28 pm CDT (20:28 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −13 kt | -8 °C | 133 kt | 9 h 26 min | 3:28 pm CDT (20:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | −14 kt | -9 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 22 min | 3:24 pm CDT (20:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 34 kt | −15 kt | -21 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 18 min | 3:20 pm CDT (20:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | −33 kt | -32 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 12 min | 2:14 pm CDT (19:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 49 kt | −38 kt | -38 °C | 158 kt | 7 h 57 min | 1:59 pm CDT (18:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 48 kt | −40 kt | -47 °C | 160 kt | 7 h 51 min | 1:53 pm CDT (18:53 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLN | used from 0 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| BIL | used from 50 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 199 nm out; 120 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 249 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 448 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| GRI | used from 598 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 648 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| MKC | used from 797 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| COU | used from 847 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 996 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| CGI | used from 1046 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| BNA | used from 1146 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
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 | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 4,473 ft | 4:56 am MDT (10:56 UTC) |
| LVM Livingston, MT | 30 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 4,659 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 189 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 4,021 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 309 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 0.75 mi | 200 ft | 4,177 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| IEN Pine Ridge, SD | 408 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,332 ft | ||||
| BVN Albion, NE | 618 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,806 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 697 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| EVU Maryville, MO | 777 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 1,145 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 936 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 1126 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 410 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 1235 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 501 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | destination | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | none | 543 ft | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 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 MQY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:53 pm CDT (18:53 UTC)
Wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MQY
- From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, a broken layer at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
The forecast for BZN, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 926 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at BZN 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC), at MQY 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 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, Smyrna Airport.