Plan a flight · Sun 8:06 pm MDT (02:06 UTC)

Bozeman Yellowstone International to Chicago/Rockford International BZN → RFD

973 nautical miles (1,120 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 095°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 60-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BZN is low IFR, wind calm; RFD 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: 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 8W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC). Near the route, 169 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO MT WY
FROM 40N SHR-60WNW RAP-20ENE CYS-30SW CYS-10NW BOY-40N SHR
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.

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 467 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 387 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 149 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 159 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 129 nm along the route.
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 725 to 834 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

E75L descending, 0 nm northwest, 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 UTC): remarks: had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0104/FLDURD/TP E75L/RM HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AT 400-500FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground
B737 descending, 0 nm northwest, 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
B738 at 24,000 ft, 30 nm west, 5:13 pm MDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. At the departure end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN270030/TM 2313/FL240/TP B738/RM SN TOP FL 240 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BZN
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc
A306 at 4,700 ft, 14 nm northeast, 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 99 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIL
Where
1 nm west (280°) of BIL
Time
00:51 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
A306
Sky
base 4,700 ft
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 606 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft
A321 at 32,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the destination end, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence

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 7 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW, DBQ). 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	180° at 8 kt	+2 kt	12 °C	118 kt	8 h 15 min	5:21 am CDT (10:21 UTC)
7,500 ft	200° at 11 kt	−2 kt	12 °C	122 kt	7 h 59 min	5:05 am CDT (10:05 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	−6 kt	7 °C	126 kt	7 h 43 min	4:49 am CDT (09:49 UTC)
11,500 ft	210° at 19 kt	−8 kt	5 °C	128 kt	7 h 36 min	4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	−11 kt	1 °C	131 kt	7 h 26 min	4:32 am CDT (09:32 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−15 kt	-4 °C	135 kt	7 h 12 min	4:18 am CDT (09:18 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	−19 kt	-8 °C	139 kt	7 h	4:06 am CDT (09:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 29 kt	−21 kt	-9 °C	141 kt	6 h 54 min	4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 37 kt	−28 kt	-20 °C	148 kt	6 h 34 min	3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 38 kt	−30 kt	-35 °C	150 kt	6 h 29 min	3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 48 kt	−42 kt	-43 °C	162 kt	6 h	3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 64 kt	−60 kt	-51 °C	180 kt	5 h 24 min	2:30 am CDT (07:30 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; 65 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 298 nm out; 65 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 397 nm out; 47 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 546 nm out; 61 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°
MCW	used from 695 nm out; 58 nm from the line	200/35	240/33 18°	250/20 10°	260/10 6°	270/18 -8°	260/28 -19°	280/30 -34°	290/49 -43°	280/70 -54°
DBQ	used from 844 nm out; 35 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -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	7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC)
LVM Livingston, MT	30 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the east (080°) at 17 knots	1.75 mi	400 ft	4,659 ft	01:53 UTC
BIL Billings, MT	109 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist	from the north (010°) at 13 knots	5 mi	800 ft	3,662 ft	01:53 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD	318 nm out, 22 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,190 ft
PIR Pierre, SD	467 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	1,744 ft	01:53 UTC
HON Huron, SD	556 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the north (360°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	1,288 ft	01:55 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	626 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	01:56 UTC
FXY Forest City, IA	765 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,229 ft	01:50 UTC
CCY Charles City, IA	814 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,125 ft	01:55 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	904 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	01:53 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 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 RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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, 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, Chicago/Rockford International.