Hector International to Joe Foss Field FAR → FSD
200 nautical miles (231 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 179°, about 175° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 8:47 am CDT (13:47 UTC). Right now FAR is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 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: 191 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 191 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
- E75L at 2,200 ft, 0 nm southwest, 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 2,200 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 1058/FL022/TP E75L/SK OVC013-TOP022
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 10:58 UTC
- Height
- at 2,200 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 2,200 ft
- P28A at 4,000 ft, 15 nm west, 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,800 ft, 10 °C. At the departure end, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR270015/TM 0927/FL040/TP P28A/SK OVC013-TOP038/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- 15 nm west (270°) of KFAR
- Time
- 09:27 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,800 ft
- Temperature
- 10 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- E75L at 1,300 ft, 2 nm west, 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 2,900 ft. 10 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 1120/FL013/TP E75L/SK OVC013-TOP029
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over FAR
- Time
- 11:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 2,900 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 3 forecast points nearest it (AXN, ABR, FSD). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 180° at 6 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 1 h 45 min | 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 11 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 1 h 46 min | 8:51 am CDT (13:51 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +10 kt | 15 °C | 110 kt | 1 h 49 min | 8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +13 kt | 11 °C | 107 kt | 1 h 52 min | 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +13 kt | 6 °C | 107 kt | 1 h 52 min | 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +12 kt | 1 °C | 108 kt | 1 h 51 min | 8:56 am CDT (13:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +12 kt | -4 °C | 108 kt | 1 h 51 min | 8:56 am CDT (13:56 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +12 kt | -9 °C | 108 kt | 1 h 51 min | 8:56 am CDT (13:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 27 kt | +12 kt | -10 °C | 108 kt | 1 h 51 min | 8:56 am CDT (13:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 34 kt | +13 kt | -21 °C | 107 kt | 1 h 52 min | 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 32 kt | +5 kt | -37 °C | 115 kt | 1 h 44 min | 8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 47 kt | +4 kt | -39 °C | 116 kt | 1 h 43 min | 8:48 am CDT (13:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 60 kt | +2 kt | -47 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 42 min | 8:47 am CDT (13:47 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXN | used from 0 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| ABR | used from 95 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| FSD | used from 143 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -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 | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots | 4 mi | 400 ft | 901 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
| BWP Wahpeton, ND | 38 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots | 4 mi | 7,000 ft | 968 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| ETH Wheaton, MN | 67 nm out, 10 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet | from the north (360°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 200 ft | 1,022 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| VVV Ortonville, MN | 95 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 1,101 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| BKX Brookings, SD | 153 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,647 ft | 12:02 UTC |
| MDS Madison, SD | 172 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,718 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 6:56 am CDT (11:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,718 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:47 am CDT (13:47 UTC)
Wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 300 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 300 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet
The forecast for FAR, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 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 FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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: Hector International, Joe Foss Field.