Plan a flight · Sun 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC)

Hector International to Casper/Natrona County International FAR → CPR

475 nautical miles (547 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 243°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 knots; CPR is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25. 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

SIGMET W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 59 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
MT WY
FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.

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 50 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 route from 188 to 277 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 178 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 50 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 20 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). Over the last 10 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 FAR.

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

BE9L at 21,000 ft, 50 nm southeast, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): light chop turbulence above 21,000 ft, moderate icing above 21,000 ft, -21 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 455 nm along the route, 50 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DGW UA /OV IIP200020/TM 2322/FL210/TP BE9L/SK BASE 200/TA M21/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 210/IC MOD MIX 210/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DGW
Where
20 nm south (200°) of IIP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
base 20,000 ft
Temperature
−21 °C
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 21,000 ft
Icing
moderate mix at 21,000 ft
Remarks
zdvwc
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, 9 nm southeast, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 9 nm southeast 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
CRJ2 at 9,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:35 pm CDT (00:35 UTC): light chop turbulence, vmc, remarks: occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft. At the destination end, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UA /OV CPR215015/TM 0035/FL090/TP CRJ2/WX VMC/TB LGT CHOP/RM OCNL MOD TURB AT 150
```
Report
a routine report filed through CPR
Where
15 nm southwest (215°) of CPR
Time
00:35 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Weather
visual conditions
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft
PC12 at 12,000 ft, 24 nm southwest, 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing, overcast above 12,500 ft. At the destination end, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UA /OV CPR220024/TM 2200/FL120/TP PC12/SK OVC125/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through CPR
Where
24 nm southwest (220°) of CPR
Time
22:00 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 12,500 ft
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
none

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, PIR, RAP, LND). 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	100° at 8 kt	−6 kt	14 °C	126 kt	3 h 46 min	10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC)
6,500 ft	150° at 7 kt	+1 kt	13 °C	119 kt	3 h 59 min	10:46 pm MDT (04:46 UTC)
8,500 ft	200° at 15 kt	+12 kt	11 °C	108 kt	4 h 24 min	11:11 pm MDT (05:11 UTC)
10,500 ft	210° at 23 kt	+21 kt	8 °C	99 kt	4 h 48 min	11:35 pm MDT (05:35 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+28 kt	4 °C	92 kt	5 h 10 min	11:57 pm MDT (05:57 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	+31 kt	-1 °C	89 kt	5 h 20 min	12:07 am MDT (06:07 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 34 kt	+34 kt	-6 °C	86 kt	5 h 31 min	12:18 am MDT (06:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 37 kt	+37 kt	-9 °C	83 kt	5 h 43 min	12:30 am MDT (06:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 39 kt	+39 kt	-21 °C	81 kt	5 h 52 min	12:39 am MDT (06:39 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 47 kt	+47 kt	-36 °C	73 kt	6 h 30 min	1:17 am MDT (07:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 55 kt	+55 kt	-43 °C	65 kt	7 h 18 min	2:05 am MDT (08:05 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 60 kt	+60 kt	-50 °C	60 kt	7 h 55 min	2:42 am MDT (08:42 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; 73 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; 54 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°
PIR	used from 149 nm out; 71 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 248 nm out; 47 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°
LND	used from 446 nm out; 113 nm from the line			180/33 10°	190/50 3°	210/59 -9°	200/50 -21°	190/41 -34°	230/55 -39°	240/65 -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
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	40 nm out, 24 nm northwest 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
GWR Gwinner, ND	50 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	from the north-northeast (020°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	1,265 ft	23:35 UTC
ASY Ashley, ND	119 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,034 ft
MBG Mobridge, SD	168 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 14 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	1,400 ft	1,716 ft	23:52 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	317 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	3,203 ft	00:03 UTC
ECS Newcastle, WY	366 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	4,177 ft	00:35 UTC
CPR Casper, WY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the northwest (310°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	9,000 ft	5,344 ft	5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,344 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CPR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, a broken layer at 3,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for CPR

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 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 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC), at CPR 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm MDT (00:56 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CPR is after sunset there (6:30 pm MDT (00:30 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, Casper/Natrona County International.