Kearney Regional to North Platte Rgnl/Lee Bird Field EAR → LBF
80 nautical miles (92 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 288°, about 283° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC). Right now EAR is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots; LBF is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 4 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 9E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
Turbulence No turbulence warning in force along the route. No pilot has reported turbulence near the line in the last three hours. The government's turbulence forecast map ↗
Icing No icing warning in force along the route. A pilot reported no icing, at 4,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC). The freezing level is about 14,500 ft (from the winds-aloft temperatures), so icing is possible in cloud above that. The government's icing forecast map ↗
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
- C172 at 4,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 12:59 pm CDT (17:59 UTC): remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-19. At the destination end, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1759/FL040/TP C172/SK BASE046/RM DURD ZDVWC-19
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBF
- Where
- over LBF
- Time
- 17:59 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- BASE046
- Remarks
- during the descent ZDVWC-19
- PC12 at 4,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC): no icing, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-19. At the destination end, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1733/FL040/TP PC12/SK BASE047/IC NEG/RM DURD ZDVWC-19
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBF
- Where
- over LBF
- Time
- 17:33 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BASE047
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent ZDVWC-19
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 1 forecast point nearest it (GRI). 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 23 kt | +12 kt | 16 °C | 108 kt | 44 min | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +12 kt | 15 °C | 108 kt | 44 min | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +12 kt | 13 °C | 108 kt | 44 min | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +15 kt | 8 °C | 105 kt | 46 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +19 kt | 4 °C | 101 kt | 48 min | 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 45 kt | +24 kt | 0 °C | 96 kt | 50 min | 2:02 pm CDT (19:02 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 54 kt | +29 kt | -4 °C | 91 kt | 53 min | 2:05 pm CDT (19:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 61 kt | +33 kt | -7 °C | 87 kt | 55 min | 2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 70 kt | +47 kt | -22 °C | 73 kt | 1 h 06 min | 2:18 pm CDT (19:18 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 101 kt | +68 kt | -31 °C | 52 kt | 1 h 32 min | 2:44 pm CDT (19:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 104 kt | +70 kt | -38 °C | 50 kt | 1 h 36 min | 2:48 pm CDT (19:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 102 kt | +69 kt | -49 °C | 51 kt | 1 h 34 min | 2:46 pm CDT (19:46 UTC) |
Based on data from the 13th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 13th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 56 nm from the line | 230/23 16° | 220/31 12° | 230/33 5° | 230/61 -7° | 240/70 -22° | 240/101 -31° | 240/104 -38° | 240/102 -49° |
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 | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 2,131 ft | 12:56 pm CDT (17:56 UTC) |
| GTE Gothenburg, NE | 50 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,558 ft | ||||
| LBF North Platte, NE | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 2,777 ft | 12:53 pm CDT (17:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,777 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
The codes as issued, and in English, for every airport in the table
EAR Kearney, NE
the observation and the forecast as issued, and in English
METAR KEAR 131756Z AUTO 03011KT 10SM OVC017 11/06 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP157 60000 T01110061 10111 20089 50003
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KEAR
- the station, KEAR
- 131756Z
- observed 12:56 pm CDT (17:56 UTC)
- AUTO
- fully automated report, nobody checked it
- 03011KT
- wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots
- 10SM
- visibility 10 miles
- OVC017
- overcast at 1,700 feet
- 11/06
- temperature 11 °C (52 °F), dew point 6 °C (43 °F)
- A2999
- altimeter setting 29.99 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- SLP157
- sea-level pressure 1015.7 hPa
- 60000
- a trace of precipitation in the last three or six hours
- T01110061
- temperature 11.1 °C (52 °F), dew point 6.1 °C (43 °F)
- 10111
- highest temperature in the last six hours 11.1 °C (52 °F)
- 20089
- lowest temperature in the last six hours 8.9 °C (48 °F)
- 50003
- pressure in the last three hours rising, then falling, change 0.3 hPa
TAF KEAR 131735Z 1318/1418 01010KT P6SM OVC015 FM132100 02007KT P6SM BKN025 FM132300 01007KT P6SM SCT030 FM140300 02007KT P6SM FEW030 SCT250 FM141200 02008KT P6SM SCT070 BKN250 FM141500 04012G17KT P6SM BKN015 OVC030 PROB30 1416/1418 6SM -SHRA OVC012
- TAF
- a terminal aerodrome forecast: the weather expected at the airport, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours
- KEAR
- the station, KEAR
- 131735Z
- issued 12:35 pm CDT (17:35 UTC)
- 1318/1418 01010KT P6SM OVC015
- valid from Tue 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) to Wed 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- FM132100 02007KT P6SM BKN025
- from Tue 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- FM132300 01007KT P6SM SCT030
- from Tue 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- FM140300 02007KT P6SM FEW030 SCT250
- from Tue 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- FM141200 02008KT P6SM SCT070 BKN250
- from Wed 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- FM141500 04012G17KT P6SM BKN015 OVC030
- from Wed 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- PROB30 1416/1418 6SM -SHRA OVC012
- a 30% chance from Wed 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) to Wed 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 1,200 feet
LBF North Platte, NE
the observation and the forecast as issued, and in English
METAR KLBF 131753Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC029 11/05 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP162 T01110050 10111 20072 50003
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KLBF
- the station, KLBF
- 131753Z
- observed 12:53 pm CDT (17:53 UTC)
- AUTO
- fully automated report, nobody checked it
- 00000KT
- wind calm
- 10SM
- visibility 10 miles
- OVC029
- overcast at 2,900 feet
- 11/05
- temperature 11 °C (52 °F), dew point 5 °C (41 °F)
- A3002
- altimeter setting 30.02 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- SLP162
- sea-level pressure 1016.2 hPa
- T01110050
- temperature 11.1 °C (52 °F), dew point 5 °C (41 °F)
- 10111
- highest temperature in the last six hours 11.1 °C (52 °F)
- 20072
- lowest temperature in the last six hours 7.2 °C (45 °F)
- 50003
- pressure in the last three hours rising, then falling, change 0.3 hPa
TAF KLBF 131720Z 1318/1418 05005KT P6SM SCT020 OVC030 FM132100 04006KT P6SM BKN035 FM140200 05006KT P6SM SCT030 FM141000 04007KT P6SM SCT025 OVC050 FM141400 06009KT P6SM OVC012
- TAF
- a terminal aerodrome forecast: the weather expected at the airport, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours
- KLBF
- the station, KLBF
- 131720Z
- issued 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC)
- 1318/1418 05005KT P6SM SCT020 OVC030
- valid from Tue 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) to Wed 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- FM132100 04006KT P6SM BKN035
- from Tue 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- FM140200 05006KT P6SM SCT030
- from Tue 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- FM141000 04007KT P6SM SCT025 OVC050
- from Wed 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
- FM141400 06009KT P6SM OVC012
- from Wed 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
At LBF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for LBF
- From Tue 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Tue 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- From Wed 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Wed 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
The forecast for EAR, the departure
- From Tue 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Tue 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Tue 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Wed 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Wed 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- 30% chance between Wed 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 1,200 feet
LBF: the forecast as issued, and in English
TAF KLBF 131720Z 1318/1418 05005KT P6SM SCT020 OVC030 FM132100 04006KT P6SM BKN035 FM140200 05006KT P6SM SCT030 FM141000 04007KT P6SM SCT025 OVC050 FM141400 06009KT P6SM OVC012
EAR: the forecast as issued, and in English
TAF KEAR 131735Z 1318/1418 01010KT P6SM OVC015 FM132100 02007KT P6SM BKN025 FM132300 01007KT P6SM SCT030 FM140300 02007KT P6SM FEW030 SCT250 FM141200 02008KT P6SM SCT070 BKN250 FM141500 04012G17KT P6SM BKN015 OVC030 PROB30 1416/1418 6SM -SHRA OVC012
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Notices to air missions closures and things out of service at both ends; airspace, navigation aids and obstructions near the line
EAR: 3 notices in force, 10 starting within a week. all of them, grouped →
- closed Taxiway B between taxiway A and runway 18/36 closed until Thu 15 Oct, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) · EAR 10/008
as issued
!EAR 10/008 EAR TWY B BTN TWY A AND RWY 18/36 CLSD 2610051254-2610152300
- closed Taxiway A between taxiway B and approach end runway 36 closed until Thu 15 Oct, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) · EAR 10/007
as issued
!EAR 10/007 EAR TWY A BTN TWY B AND APCH END RWY 36 CLSD 2610051253-2610152300
LBF: 5 notices in force, 2 starting within a week. all of them, grouped →
2 notices near the line (airspace and special activity within 25 nm, navigation aids within 25 nm, obstructions within 5 nm):
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1213536) 40°42′N 99°27′W (15.1 nautical miles ESE LXN) 2538.1FT (253.0FT above ground level) out of service until Sun 15 Nov, 10:10 pm CST (04:10 UTC) · 20 nm along the route, 8 nm off the line · LXN 07/008
as issued
!LXN 07/008 LXN OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1213536) 404201.40N0992756.20W (15.1NM ESE LXN) 2538.1FT (253.0FT AGL) U/S 2607190410-2611160410
- Navigation aid VOR out of service until Wed 16 Dec, 3:11 pm CST (21:11 UTC), estimated · 50 nm along the route, 7 nm off the line · OZB 06/075
as issued
!OLU 06/075 OZB NAV VOR U/S 2606151241-2612162111EST
From the FAA's notice service (NOTAMs), the site's copy refreshed every few minutes; last checked a minute ago. The FAA has so far issued eFlight its test feed, which misses some notices (checked against the FAA's own search on 12 October: about a third missing at Santa Barbara and Burbank, none at Atlanta or Las Vegas); the request for the full feed is with the FAA. Times are local to the field. This is for planning; the legal briefing comes from Flight Service or the FAA's own tools.
Daylight
Sunset at EAR 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC), at LBF 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm CDT (00:31 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times.
The wind over the route live wind map, from Windy.com · drag the time bar for the coming hours; the level menu changes the height
Colours show wind speed, the moving lines its direction, at the surface unless you pick a height. Map and forecast by Windy.com; a second opinion beside the government's winds-aloft table above.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads · the turbulence and icing forecasts: turbulence ↗ · icing ↗
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, North Platte Rgnl/Lee Bird Field.