Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Field to Bozeman Yellowstone International ERI → BZN
1,349 nautical miles (1,552 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 290°, about 300° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 UTC). Right now ERI is marginal VFR, wind variable at 4 knots; BZN is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 4 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 110 to 250 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 400 to 540 nm out.
- 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 last 649 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 1069 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1109 to 1179 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1119 to 1239 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 ERI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A333 descending, 39 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 140 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B739 descending, 39 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 140 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft
- E73L descending, 0 nm northwest, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E73L
- Remarks
- breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
- B737 , 0 nm northwest, 1:31 am EDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 05:31 UTC
- Height
- at BURD
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 (CLE, MKG, GRB, LSE, MSP, AXN, ABR, PIR, DIK, MLS, BIL). 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 8 kt | +4 kt | 6 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 38 min | 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 8 kt | +6 kt | 13 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 50 min | 12:58 pm MDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 12 kt | +9 kt | 10 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 09 min | 1:17 pm MDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 5 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 36 min | 1:44 pm MDT (19:44 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 2 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 14 min | 2:22 pm MDT (20:22 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +21 kt | -2 °C | 99 kt | 13 h 38 min | 2:46 pm MDT (20:46 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -6 °C | 95 kt | 14 h 12 min | 3:20 pm MDT (21:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -10 °C | 93 kt | 14 h 30 min | 3:38 pm MDT (21:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 29 kt | +29 kt | -21 °C | 91 kt | 14 h 49 min | 3:57 pm MDT (21:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 31 kt | +33 kt | -36 °C | 87 kt | 15 h 30 min | 4:38 pm MDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 44 kt | +46 kt | -43 °C | 74 kt | 18 h 14 min | 7:22 pm MDT (01:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 53 kt | +56 kt | -50 °C | 64 kt | 21 h 05 min | 10:13 pm MDT (04:13 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | used from 0 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| MKG | used from 150 nm out; 102 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| GRB | used from 350 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| LSE | used from 450 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| MSP | used from 550 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| AXN | used from 649 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 100/14 | 250/21 14° | 240/24 12° | 240/31 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/40 -21° | 250/42 -36° | 260/48 -45° | 260/53 -50° |
| ABR | used from 749 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| PIR | used from 899 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| DIK | used from 949 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 1049 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| BIL | used from 1199 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERI Erie, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC) |
| DET Detroit, MI | 130 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 624 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FNT Flint, MI | 170 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 782 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| OSH Oshkosh, WI | 390 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 808 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| EAU Eau Claire, WI | 520 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 913 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 600 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 906 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| MVE Montevideo, MN | 699 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 1,034 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 899 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,716 ft | 06:59 UTC |
| LEM Lemmon, SD | 969 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,572 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | 1239 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | 1,300 ft | 3,662 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 3,700 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 3,700 ft | 4,473 ft | 12:56 am MDT (06:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,473 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BZN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BZN
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 2 miles, light snow, a broken layer at 200 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
The forecast for ERI, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 ERI 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC), at BZN 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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: Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Field, Bozeman Yellowstone International.