The Eastern Iowa Airport to Boeing Fld/King County International CID → BFI
1,339 nautical miles (1,541 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 295°, about 293° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC). Right now CID is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 10 knots; BFI is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 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: 3 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 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 first 190 nm of the route.
- 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 route from 260 to 979 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 620 to 720 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 730 to 1149 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 750 to 1129 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 979 to 1309 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 CID.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 11 nm north, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 90 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 35 nm east (075°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:35 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 9 nm southwest, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 180 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD285060/TM 1145/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 60 nm west (285°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even 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 (DBQ, MCW, FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, LWS, GEG, YKM, SEA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 260° at 11 kt | +9 kt | 8 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 04 min | 5:22 pm PDT (00:22 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 11 kt | +9 kt | 9 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 04 min | 5:22 pm PDT (00:22 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 12 kt | +8 kt | 6 °C | 112 kt | 11 h 57 min | 5:15 pm PDT (00:15 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | +9 kt | 1 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 04 min | 5:22 pm PDT (00:22 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 14 kt | +9 kt | -2 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 04 min | 5:22 pm PDT (00:22 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 14 kt | +8 kt | -6 °C | 112 kt | 11 h 57 min | 5:15 pm PDT (00:15 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 14 kt | +7 kt | -10 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 51 min | 5:09 pm PDT (00:09 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 15 kt | +6 kt | -13 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 45 min | 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 23 kt | +11 kt | -25 °C | 109 kt | 12 h 17 min | 5:35 pm PDT (00:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 26 kt | +18 kt | -35 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 08 min | 6:26 pm PDT (01:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 36 kt | +24 kt | -38 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 57 min | 7:15 pm PDT (02:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 45 kt | +34 kt | -45 °C | 86 kt | 15 h 34 min | 8:52 pm PDT (03:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| MCW | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| FSD | used from 150 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| PIR | used from 300 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 450 nm out; 70 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° | |
| MLS | used from 600 nm out; 60 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° | |
| BIL | used from 700 nm out; 44 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° | |
| GTF | used from 849 nm out; 59 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| GPI | used from 999 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| LWS | used from 1049 nm out; 65 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| GEG | used from 1099 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| YKM | used from 1199 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| SEA | used from 1299 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC) |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 40 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 240 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 300 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 1,304 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 759 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 3,662 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HLN Helena, MT | 909 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,600 ft | 3,877 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | 999 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GEG Spokane, WA | 1149 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 2,385 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 1219 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,188 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| BFI Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFI
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am PDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet
The forecast for CID, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 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 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 979 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 979 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
Daylight
Sunset at CID 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC), at BFI 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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: The Eastern Iowa Airport, Boeing Fld/King County International.