Northern Colorado Regional to Pocatello Regional FNL → PIH
371 nautical miles (426 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 296°, about 287° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FNL is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 7 knots; PIH 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: 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 263 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 244 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), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 20 to 185 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 293 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 263 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 117 to 185 nm out.
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 FNL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 7 nm northeast, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. At the departure end, 7 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
- Time
- 07:24 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- FL180-130
- B737 descending, 42 nm southeast, 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 07:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- smooth
- B738 descending, 42 nm southeast, 12:15 am MDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
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 3 forecast points nearest it (DEN, RKS, PIH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | +3 kt | 14 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 10 min | 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +10 kt | 5 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 22 min | 5:03 am MDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +16 kt | 0 °C | 104 kt | 3 h 34 min | 5:15 am MDT (11:15 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | +14 kt | -4 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 30 min | 5:11 am MDT (11:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | +11 kt | -8 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 24 min | 5:05 am MDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | +10 kt | -11 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 22 min | 5:03 am MDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 51 kt | +10 kt | -23 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 22 min | 5:03 am MDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 57 kt | +14 kt | -28 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 30 min | 5:11 am MDT (11:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 62 kt | +22 kt | -35 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 47 min | 5:28 am MDT (11:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | +26 kt | -44 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 57 min | 5:38 am MDT (11:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 98 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 293 nm out; 54 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | departure | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 12:56 am MDT (06:56 UTC) |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 117 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 6,548 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 195 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: light rain | from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots | 7 mi | 4,100 ft | 6,764 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 263 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 6,993 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| AFO Afton, WY | 302 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,600 feet, scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 6,220 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| PIH Pocatello, ID | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 4,451 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PIH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet IFR
The whole forecast for PIH
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet and more above
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
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 FNL 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC), at PIH 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PIH is before sunrise there (7:40 am MDT (13:40 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: Northern Colorado Regional, Pocatello Regional.