Dickinson/Theodore Roosevelt Regional to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field DIK → BFF
298 nautical miles (343 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 187°, about 177° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (5,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 9:26 pm MDT (03:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DIK is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24; BFF is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 13 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 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 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 189 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 DIK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ2 at 2,900 ft, 4 nm north, 6:05 pm MDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 0005/FL029/TP CRJ2/SK BASE029
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 00:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,900 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Sky
- BASE029
- BE20 at 3,000 ft, 4 nm north, 4:56 pm MDT (22:56 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2256/FL030/TP BE20/SK BASE031/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 22:56 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- BASE031
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- TBM7 at 3,000 ft, 4 nm north, 3:55 pm MDT (21:55 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 5 °C. At the departure end, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2155/FL030/TP TBM7/SK BASE030-TOP043/ BASE060-TOP081/TA 05/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 21:55 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM7
- Sky
- BASE030-TOP043; BASE060-TOP081
- Temperature
- 5 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B763 at 36,000 ft, 17 nm south, 4:48 pm MDT (22:48 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-33. At the destination end, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BFF UA /OV BFF200020/TM 2248/FL360/TP B763/SK TOP 320-340/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-33
- Report
- a routine report filed through BFF
- Where
- 20 nm south (200°) of BFF
- Time
- 22:48 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- top from 32,000 ft to 34,000 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-33
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 3 forecast points nearest it (DIK, RAP, BFF). 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 | 120° at 16 kt | +6 kt | 10 °C | 114 kt | 2 h 37 min | 9:26 pm MDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 160° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 10 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 49 min | 9:38 pm MDT (03:38 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 190° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 8 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 02 min | 9:51 pm MDT (03:51 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +22 kt | 5 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 02 min | 9:51 pm MDT (03:51 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +23 kt | 1 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 04 min | 9:53 pm MDT (03:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +24 kt | -3 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 06 min | 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +25 kt | -8 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 08 min | 9:57 pm MDT (03:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | +25 kt | -9 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 08 min | 9:57 pm MDT (03:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 44 kt | +26 kt | -21 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 10 min | 9:59 pm MDT (03:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 51 kt | +34 kt | -36 °C | 86 kt | 3 h 28 min | 10:17 pm MDT (04:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 54 kt | +31 kt | -42 °C | 89 kt | 3 h 21 min | 10:10 pm MDT (04:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | +27 kt | -48 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 12 min | 10:01 pm MDT (04:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 110/15 6° | 200/17 5° | 230/31 1° | 240/47 -10° | 240/52 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 240/57 -45° | 250/67 -51° | |
| RAP | used from 99 nm out; 42 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° | |
| BFF | used from 248 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/24 | 180/31 13° | 210/26 7° | 230/25 -7° | 240/41 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 250/56 -41° | 260/57 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIK Dickinson, ND | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (050°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 8 mi | 500 ft | 2,592 ft | 5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC) |
| BWW Bowman, ND | 40 nm out, 16 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20 | 3 mi | 400 ft | 2,965 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| HEI Hettinger, ND | 50 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (050°) at 10 knots | 2 mi | 300 ft | 2,705 ft | 00:46 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 169 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | 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 | 00:03 UTC |
| HSR Hot Springs, SD | 208 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,150 ft | ||||
| CDR Chadron, NE | 238 nm out, 16 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,297 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,967 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:26 pm MDT (03:26 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 15,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFF
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for DIK, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 11 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 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 DIK 6:10 pm MDT (00:10 UTC), at BFF 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFF is after sunset there (6:19 pm MDT (00:19 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: Dickinson/Theodore Roosevelt Regional, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.