Plan a flight · Mon 9:06 am MDT (15:06 UTC)

Bozeman Yellowstone International to Richmond International BZN → RIC

1,583 nautical miles (1,822 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 096°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BZN is low IFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 knots; RIC is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25. 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 687 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 80 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 159 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the route from 1235 to 1454 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1364 to 1464 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1434 to 1534 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, 16 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, 16 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
BE9L at 15,000 ft, 16 nm south, 8:41 am MDT (14:41 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 408 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHP UA /OV PHP340020/TM 1441/FL150/TP BE9L/SK TOP 155 BKN/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHP
Where
20 nm north (340°) of PHP
Time
14:41 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
top 15,500 ft broken
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
BE9L at 15,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 428 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR270040/TM 1453/FL150/TP BE9L/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
40 nm west (270°) of PIR
Time
14:53 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
SF50 at 4,000 ft, 5 nm east, 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 468 nm along the route, 5 nm east 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
UAL1095 at 36,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): no turbulence, -41 °C, wind 253° at 52 knots. 627 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest 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
BE36 at 6,000 ft, 25 nm north, 7:12 am MDT (13:12 UTC): no turbulence. 727 nm along the route, 25 nm north 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
P46T at 31,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 827 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO270005/TM 1337/FL310/TP P46T/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
5 nm west (270°) of ALO
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
P46T
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
A321 at 32,000 ft, 28 nm southwest, 6:25 am MDT (12:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 866 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CID UA /OV CID360010/TM 1225/FL320/TP A321/TB INTMT LGT CHOP CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CID
Where
10 nm north (360°) of CID
Time
12:25 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
intermittent light chop continuous light chop
B752 at 34,000 ft, 13 nm north, 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 886 nm along the route, 13 nm north 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
B39M at 36,000 ft, 42 nm northeast, 7:18 am MDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. 1016 nm along the route, 42 nm northeast 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
B738 at 26,000 ft, 45 nm north, 6:21 am MDT (12:21 UTC): no turbulence from 25,000 ft to 26,000 ft. 1135 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSH UA /OV GSH090020/TM 1221/FL260/TP B738/TB NEG 260-250
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSH
Where
20 nm east (090°) of GSH
Time
12:21 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
no from 26,000 ft to 25,000 ft
E75L at 26,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 7:19 am MDT (13:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing up to 26,000 ft. 1225 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DQN180005/TM 1319/FL260/TP E75L/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG BLO 260
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
5 nm south (180°) of DQN
Time
13:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
no below 26,000 ft

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 13 forecast points nearest it (BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW, DBQ, JOT, FWA, CMH, CRW, 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 16 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	11 h 54 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
5,500 ft	270° at 13 kt	−12 kt	8 °C	132 kt	12 h	11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	−15 kt	12 °C	135 kt	11 h 44 min	10:50 pm EDT (02:50 UTC)
9,500 ft	260° at 19 kt	−18 kt	7 °C	138 kt	11 h 28 min	10:34 pm EDT (02:34 UTC)
11,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	−21 kt	4 °C	141 kt	11 h 14 min	10:20 pm EDT (02:20 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 23 kt	−22 kt	0 °C	142 kt	11 h 09 min	10:15 pm EDT (02:15 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 24 kt	−24 kt	-4 °C	144 kt	11 h	10:06 pm EDT (02:06 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-9 °C	145 kt	10 h 55 min	10:01 pm EDT (02:01 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-10 °C	145 kt	10 h 55 min	10:01 pm EDT (02:01 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 33 kt	−31 kt	-22 °C	151 kt	10 h 29 min	9:35 pm EDT (01:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 40 kt	−37 kt	-34 °C	157 kt	10 h 05 min	9:11 pm EDT (01:11 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-39 °C	164 kt	9 h 39 min	8:45 pm EDT (00:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 48 kt	−48 kt	-46 °C	168 kt	9 h 25 min	8:31 pm EDT (00:31 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; 85 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 199 nm out; 70 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 299 nm out; 58 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 398 nm out; 45 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°
FSD	used from 548 nm out; 56 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 697 nm out; 57 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°
DBQ	used from 847 nm out; 31 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 946 nm out; 55 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°
FWA	used from 1095 nm out; 48 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°
CMH	used from 1245 nm out; 19 nm from the line	270/15	280/20 14°	280/21 9°	290/26 4°	290/29 -7°	290/38 -20°	280/44 -35°	280/48 -42°	310/61 -48°
CRW	used from 1344 nm out; 49 nm from the line	270/8	320/23 15°	320/22 10°	330/25 5°	300/30 -6°	290/34 -19°	280/37 -35°	290/48 -42°	310/58 -50°
EKN	used from 1394 nm out; 26 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 1494 nm out; 65 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: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	3 mi	200 ft	4,473 ft	9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC)
BIL Billings, MT	110 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a few clouds at 2,100 feet, scattered clouds at 3,700 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	3,662 ft	14:53 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	468 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 8 knots	6 mi	400 ft	1,744 ft	15:00 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	627 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	14:56 UTC
LYV Luverne, MN	647 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,435 ft	14:55 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	906 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	14:53 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	1026 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	14:45 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	1135 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	14:55 UTC
LCK Columbus, OH	1285 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	743 ft	14:55 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	1514 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	640 ft	14:53 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet	from the north (350°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	4,500 ft	167 ft	10:54 am EDT (14:54 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 RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC)

Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RIC

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at BZN 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIC is after sunset there (6:36 pm EDT (22:36 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, Richmond International.