Joe Foss Field to Billings Logan International FSD → BIL
521 nautical miles (599 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 289°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 7:21 am MDT (13:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 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: 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
- SIGMET C14C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 226 to 285 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120755 MKCC WST 120755 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14C VALID UNTIL 0955Z SD ND FROM 50SE DIK-50ENE DPR-40ENE RAP-50NNW RAP-50SE DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- 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 422 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 route from 304 to 403 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 177 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 363 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 (FSD, PIR, RAP, 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 | 250° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 11 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 52 min | 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 13 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 55 min | 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 58 min | 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +15 kt | 6 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 58 min | 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +15 kt | 2 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 58 min | 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +13 kt | -3 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 52 min | 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +11 kt | -7 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 47 min | 7:26 am MDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 30 kt | +9 kt | -10 °C | 111 kt | 4 h 42 min | 7:21 am MDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 41 kt | +13 kt | -23 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 52 min | 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | +28 kt | -33 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 40 min | 8:19 am MDT (14:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 49 kt | +31 kt | -37 °C | 89 kt | 5 h 51 min | 8:30 am MDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 58 kt | +42 kt | -46 °C | 78 kt | 6 h 41 min | 9:20 am MDT (15:20 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° |
| PIR | used from 98 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 246 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| MLS | used from 344 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 442 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° |
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 | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC) |
| MDS Madison, SD | 20 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,718 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 59 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 1,304 ft | 08:08 UTC |
| MKA Miller, SD | 108 nm out, 24 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,569 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 157 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 1,744 ft | 08:32 UTC |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 314 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 3,662 ft | 1:53 am MDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,662 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:21 am MDT (13:21 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BIL
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain snow ice pellets, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain snow ice pellets, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 300 feet, 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, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
The forecast for FSD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 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 FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BIL is before sunrise there (7:26 am MDT (13:26 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, Billings Logan International.