Kearney Regional to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field EAR → BFF
218 nautical miles (251 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 290°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:07 pm MDT (03:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now EAR is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots; BFF is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 12 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: 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 79 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 EAR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 25 nm south, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 79 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B789 at 40,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 99 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SNY
- Where
- 81 nm east (088°) of SNY
- Time
- 00:22 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- B789 at 40,000 ft, 29 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 109 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SNY
- Where
- 72 nm east (088°) of SNY
- Time
- 00:22 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- B763 at 36,000 ft, 17 nm south, 5:48 pm CDT (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 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 2 forecast points nearest it (GRI, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 170° at 19 kt | −10 kt | 19 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 41 min | 9:07 pm MDT (03:07 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 170° at 19 kt | −8 kt | 18 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 42 min | 9:08 pm MDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 22 kt | −1 kt | 15 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 48 min | 9:14 pm MDT (03:14 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +4 kt | 10 °C | 116 kt | 1 h 53 min | 9:19 pm MDT (03:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +9 kt | 6 °C | 111 kt | 1 h 58 min | 9:24 pm MDT (03:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +12 kt | 1 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 01 min | 9:27 pm MDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +15 kt | -4 °C | 105 kt | 2 h 05 min | 9:31 pm MDT (03:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | +18 kt | -7 °C | 102 kt | 2 h 08 min | 9:34 pm MDT (03:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 37 kt | +28 kt | -19 °C | 92 kt | 2 h 22 min | 9:48 pm MDT (03:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 49 kt | +28 kt | -34 °C | 92 kt | 2 h 22 min | 9:48 pm MDT (03:48 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 56 kt | +44 kt | -41 °C | 76 kt | 2 h 52 min | 10:18 pm MDT (04:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 59 kt | +52 kt | -48 °C | 68 kt | 3 h 12 min | 10:38 pm MDT (04:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRI | used from 0 nm out; 55 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° | |
| BFF | used from 99 nm out; 94 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAR Kearney, NE | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,131 ft | 7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC) |
| LXN Lexington, NE | 30 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,412 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| LBF North Platte, NE | 79 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,777 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| OGA Ogallala, NE | 129 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,279 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 159 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| AIA Alliance, NE | 188 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east (080°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,930 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | VFR | from the east (100°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 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, 9:07 pm MDT (03:07 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 EAR, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 EAR 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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: Kearney Regional, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.