Pryor Field Regional to Rapid City Regional DCU → RAP
934 nautical miles (1,075 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 312°, about 316° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 1-knot headwind), arriving about 2:37 am MDT (08:37 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots; RAP is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 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
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the first 50 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). Near the route, 864 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 DCU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 29,000 ft, 32 nm southwest, 5:15 pm CDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 40 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSL
- Where
- 20 nm west (270°) of MSL
- Time
- 22:15 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ZME31
- BE40 at 29,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 50 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUP
- Where
- 41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
- Time
- 23:22 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE40
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
- Remarks
- zme
- B38M at 25,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 109 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
- Report
- a routine report filed through MKL
- Where
- 35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
- Time
- 00:12 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- ZME26
- BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 139 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
- Report
- a routine report filed through DYR
- Where
- over DYR
- Time
- 00:13 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZME33
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 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 11 forecast points nearest it (HSV, BNA, CGI, STL, COU, MKC, OMA, GRI, ONL, PIR, RAP). 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 | 220° at 14 kt | +1 kt | 16 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 51 min | 2:37 am MDT (08:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 16 °C | 114 kt | 8 h 12 min | 2:58 am MDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +11 kt | 12 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 34 min | 3:20 am MDT (09:20 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +14 kt | 9 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 49 min | 3:35 am MDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 59 min | 3:45 am MDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 04 min | 3:50 am MDT (09:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | +19 kt | -4 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 15 min | 4:01 am MDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 23 kt | +20 kt | -8 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 20 min | 4:06 am MDT (10:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 25 kt | +23 kt | -19 °C | 97 kt | 9 h 38 min | 4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 36 kt | +33 kt | -33 °C | 87 kt | 10 h 44 min | 5:30 am MDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 42 kt | +38 kt | -41 °C | 82 kt | 11 h 23 min | 6:09 am MDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 48 kt | +44 kt | -50 °C | 76 kt | 12 h 17 min | 7:03 am MDT (13:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSV | used from 0 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 290/15 | 330/34 16° | 330/38 11° | 330/40 5° | 320/36 -7° | 320/31 -18° | 320/44 -34° | 330/53 -41° | 330/34 -48° |
| BNA | used from 50 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| CGI | used from 99 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 250/10 | 290/12 17° | 290/18 11° | 300/22 5° | 320/25 -8° | 330/30 -18° | 320/53 -33° | 320/66 -42° | 320/56 -50° |
| STL | used from 248 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| COU | used from 298 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| MKC | used from 397 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| OMA | used from 497 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| GRI | used from 596 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| ONL | used from 695 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| PIR | used from 795 nm out; 85 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° | |
| RAP | used from 845 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCU Decatur, AL | departure | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 592 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
| PVE Lexington-Parsons, TN | 89 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 487 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 109 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| DXE Dexter, MO | 199 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 304 ft | ||||
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 348 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| HIG Higginsville, MO | 417 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 840 ft | ||||
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 487 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 596 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 676 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 1,806 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 775 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,588 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 3,203 ft | 6:03 pm MDT (00:03 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:37 am MDT (08:37 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for RAP
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 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 DCU 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC), at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is before sunrise there (7:02 am MDT (13:02 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: Pryor Field Regional, Rapid City Regional.