Plan a flight · Sun 9:33 pm EDT (01:33 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to Rapid City Regional DTW → RAP

868 nautical miles (999 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 284°, about 291° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 3:18 am MDT (09:18 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots; RAP is IFR, 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: 5 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 30 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), from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). Over the route from 758 to 818 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC). 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 DTW.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A320 at 33,000 ft, 14 nm south, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 80 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
CRJ7 descending, 0 nm south, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
final 3R
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 2,800 ft
A21N descending, 0 nm south, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
final runway 4L
E75S descending, 0 nm south, 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV RWY 3R/TM 2301/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK TOPS 020 BASES 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
runway 3R
Time
23:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
tops 2,000 ft bases 1,000 ft
SR22 at 1,300 ft, 25 nm north, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
3 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
bases 1,900 ft overcast
C550 at 2,300 ft, 26 nm north, 8:46 pm EDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
4W
Time
00:46 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C550
Remarks
fis 4 mile final
A320 climbing, 41 nm south, 8:14 pm EDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
00:14 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A320
Sky
B025 overcast T040
GLF5 at 9,000 ft, 26 nm north, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 7E/TM 2313/FL090/TP GLF5/SK OVC015-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 7E
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,000 ft
PA32 at 1,500 ft, 26 nm north, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 1W/TM 2303/FL015/TP PA32/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 1W
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
E55P descending, 2 nm east, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 2 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015
A320 descending, 41 nm south, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. At the departure end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Wind
wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft
E170 at 21,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 9:07 pm EDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 50 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAN
Where
20 nm south (180°) of LAN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
lght chop
Remarks
during the climb zob
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 48 nm south, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 50 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

7 more routine reports are on the map.

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 9 forecast points nearest it (FWA, MKG, GRB, DBQ, LSE, MCW, FSD, 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	230° at 12 kt	+8 kt	15 °C	112 kt	7 h 45 min	3:18 am MDT (09:18 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 12 kt	+11 kt	15 °C	109 kt	7 h 58 min	3:31 am MDT (09:31 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 14 kt	+14 kt	12 °C	106 kt	8 h 11 min	3:44 am MDT (09:44 UTC)
10,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	+14 kt	8 °C	106 kt	8 h 11 min	3:44 am MDT (09:44 UTC)
12,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	+14 kt	4 °C	106 kt	8 h 11 min	3:44 am MDT (09:44 UTC)
14,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	+17 kt	-1 °C	103 kt	8 h 26 min	3:59 am MDT (09:59 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	+19 kt	-5 °C	101 kt	8 h 36 min	4:09 am MDT (10:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 21 kt	+22 kt	-9 °C	98 kt	8 h 51 min	4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 27 kt	+28 kt	-21 °C	92 kt	9 h 26 min	4:59 am MDT (10:59 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 35 kt	+37 kt	-36 °C	83 kt	10 h 27 min	6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 40 kt	+42 kt	-44 °C	78 kt	11 h 08 min	6:41 am MDT (12:41 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 57 kt	+59 kt	-51 °C	61 kt	14 h 14 min	9:47 am MDT (15:47 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
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 99 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
MKG	used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
GRB	used from 200 nm out; 89 nm from the line	240/24	260/18 16°	270/20 11°	290/14 4°	280/24 -9°	300/34 -21°	310/51 -38°	310/54 -48°	300/71 -51°
DBQ	used from 250 nm out; 72 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°
LSE	used from 299 nm out; 46 nm from the line	220/33	250/29 17°	250/15 9°	260/12 6°	280/21 -9°	280/33 -20°	300/43 -36°	310/56 -45°	300/79 -53°
MCW	used from 399 nm out; 31 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°
FSD	used from 499 nm out; 71 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°
PIR	used from 649 nm out; 79 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 798 nm out; 45 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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots	9 mi	2,000 ft	645 ft	9:18 pm EDT (01:18 UTC)
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	20 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	00:53 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	100 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	793 ft	00:53 UTC
UES Waukesha, WI	220 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	911 ft	00:45 UTC
MSN Madison, WI	269 nm out, 0 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	00:53 UTC
RST Rochester, MN	409 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	00:54 UTC
SBU Blue Earth, MN	479 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,107 ft
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	589 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	00:56 UTC
MHE Mitchell, SD	649 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,304 ft	00:53 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	749 nm out, 23 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,744 ft	00:53 UTC
PHP Philip, SD	808 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots	7 mi	900 ft	2,209 ft	01:28 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	3,203 ft	6:52 pm MDT (00:52 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, 3:18 am MDT (09:18 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

The forecast for DTW, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 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 DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, Rapid City Regional.