Plan a flight · Sun 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC)

Hector International to Bozeman Yellowstone International FAR → BZN

597 nautical miles (687 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 269°, about 265° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:13 pm MDT (05:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 knots; BZN is low IFR, 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: 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 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 70 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
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 398 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 328 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 119 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 508 nm along 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 FAR.

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

C56X at 1,300 ft, 0 nm southwest, 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft
E170 at 6,000 ft, 10 nm south, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 2218/FL060/TP E170/SK TOP060-OVC014/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
22:18 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
TOP060-OVC014
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
PC12 at 16,000 ft, 30 nm north, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light icing, -6 °C. 90 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JMS UA /OV JMS332028/TM 0012/FL160/TP PC12/TA M06/IC LGT CLR
```
Report
a routine report filed through JMS
Where
28 nm northwest (332°) of JMS
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−6 °C
Icing
light clear
CRJ2 at 2,900 ft, 12 nm north, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 249 nm along the route, 12 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, 12 nm north, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 249 nm along the route, 12 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, 12 nm north, 4:55 pm CDT (21:55 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 5 °C. 249 nm along the route, 12 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
B737 descending, 0 nm northwest, 7:28 pm CDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
B738 at 24,000 ft, 30 nm west, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. At the destination end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN270030/TM 2313/FL240/TP B738/RM SN TOP FL 240 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BZN
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc

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 5 forecast points nearest it (GFK, ABR, 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	090° at 16 kt	−15 kt	6 °C	135 kt	4 h 25 min	11:13 pm MDT (05:13 UTC)
6,500 ft	120° at 12 kt	−10 kt	8 °C	130 kt	4 h 36 min	11:24 pm MDT (05:24 UTC)
8,500 ft	180° at 12 kt	0	7 °C	120 kt	4 h 58 min	11:46 pm MDT (05:46 UTC)
10,500 ft	200° at 21 kt	+11 kt	3 °C	109 kt	5 h 29 min	12:17 am MDT (06:17 UTC)
12,500 ft	210° at 31 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	5 h 58 min	12:46 am MDT (06:46 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 35 kt	+26 kt	-4 °C	94 kt	6 h 21 min	1:09 am MDT (07:09 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 40 kt	+33 kt	-7 °C	87 kt	6 h 52 min	1:40 am MDT (07:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 44 kt	+37 kt	-10 °C	83 kt	7 h 12 min	2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 51 kt	+45 kt	-21 °C	75 kt	7 h 58 min	2:46 am MDT (08:46 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 49 kt	+38 kt	-36 °C	82 kt	7 h 17 min	2:05 am MDT (08:05 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 62 kt	+54 kt	-44 °C	66 kt	9 h 03 min	3:51 am MDT (09:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 75 kt	+72 kt	-50 °C	48 kt	12 h 26 min	7:14 am MDT (13:14 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
GFK	used from 0 nm out; 63 nm from the line	050/18	L/V 10°	240/20 7°	240/36 1°	250/47 -11°	260/53 -21°	270/59 -36°	270/65 -47°	260/88 -56°
ABR	used from 50 nm out; 86 nm from the line	030/24	220/5 16°	230/18 12°	230/32 5°	240/38 -10°	250/37 -20°	240/40 -35°	240/56 -44°	250/72 -52°
DIK	used from 149 nm out; 72 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°
MLS	used from 299 nm out; 51 nm from the line		120/22 5°	170/18 4°	200/33 1°	230/49 -10°	230/58 -21°	220/54 -37°	230/64 -44°	250/74 -49°
BIL	used from 448 nm out; 25 nm from the line		080/24	130/14 -1°	180/33 0°	210/43 -10°	220/58 -21°	200/55 -36°	220/75 -44°	240/83 -48°

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
FAR Fargo, ND	departure	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the north (010°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	901 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
BAC Valley City, ND	50 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	1,300 ft	1,401 ft	21:55 UTC
JMS Jamestown, ND	80 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the north (010°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,499 ft	23:56 UTC
BIS Bismarck, ND	159 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	1,400 ft	1,661 ft	23:52 UTC
DIK Dickinson, ND	249 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	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	23:56 UTC
BHK Baker, MT	309 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east-northeast (070°) at 13 knots	6 mi	600 ft	2,980 ft	23:51 UTC
MLS Miles City, MT	378 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (040°) at 14 knots	7 mi	500 ft	2,634 ft	23:53 UTC
BIL Billings, MT	488 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north (010°) at 14 knots	6 mi	800 ft	3,662 ft	23:53 UTC
LVM Livingston, MT	567 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the east (080°) at 14 knots	1.25 mi	400 ft	4,659 ft	00:39 UTC
BZN Bozeman, MT	destination	low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: snow, fog	calm	0.5 mi	1,100 ft	4,473 ft	5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,659 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, 11:13 pm MDT (05:13 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility ½ mile, snow, fog, overcast at 300 feet low IFR

At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet IFR

The whole forecast for BZN

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ½ mile, snow, fog, overcast at 300 feet
At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 800 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm MDT (23:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet

The forecast for FAR, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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 FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at BZN 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:14 pm MDT (01:14 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BZN is after sunset there (6:46 pm MDT (00:46 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 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: Hector International, Bozeman Yellowstone International.