Joe Foss Field to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International FSD → BHM
761 nautical miles (876 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 139°, about 134° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; BHM is 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: 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 40 to 366 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Near the route, 722 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 FSD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 16 nm northeast, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 59 nm along the route, 16 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD285060/TM 1145/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 60 nm west (285°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- B38M at 39,000 ft, 49 nm northeast, 6:58 am CDT (11:58 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 02. At the destination end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV CTJ300040/TM 1158/FL390/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 02
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- 40 nm northwest (300°) of CTJ
- Time
- 11:58 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- ztlfd 02
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 9 forecast points nearest it (FSD, OMA, DSM, COU, STL, CGI, MEM, HSV, BHM). 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 | 250° at 25 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 5 h 54 min | 1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 6 h | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −6 kt | 15 °C | 126 kt | 6 h 02 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 05 min | 2:01 pm CDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −6 kt | 6 °C | 126 kt | 6 h 02 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 3 °C | 127 kt | 6 h | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | −9 kt | -2 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 54 min | 1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | −12 kt | -6 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 46 min | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 23 kt | −12 kt | -7 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 46 min | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 29 kt | −16 kt | -19 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 36 min | 1:32 pm CDT (18:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 42 kt | −33 kt | -32 °C | 153 kt | 4 h 58 min | 12:54 pm CDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 52 kt | −41 kt | -39 °C | 161 kt | 4 h 44 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 50 kt | −44 kt | -49 °C | 164 kt | 4 h 38 min | 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| OMA | used from 99 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 148 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| COU | used from 247 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 396 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| CGI | used from 445 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| MEM | used from 593 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| HSV | used from 643 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| BHM | used from 742 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | departure | 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) |
| SXK Maurice, IA | 40 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| GCT Guthrie Center, IA | 148 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,220 ft | ||||
| GFZ Greenfield, IA | 168 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,363 ft | ||||
| IRK Kirksville, MO | 277 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| MYJ Mexico, MO | 346 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 822 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| FAM Farmington, MO | 455 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 945 ft | 20:07 UTC |
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 504 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 603 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| SNH Savannah, TN | 643 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 472 ft | 12:30 UTC |
| JFX Jasper, AL | 732 nm out, 12 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet | calm | 7 mi | 200 ft | 482 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 8 mi | none | 650 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,430 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BHM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BHM
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for FSD, the departure
- 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
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, 336 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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: Joe Foss Field, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International.