Joe Foss Field to Idaho Falls Regional FSD → IDA
666 nautical miles (767 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 270° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 11:18 am MDT (17:18 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots; IDA is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 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
- 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 646 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). Near the route, 358 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 249 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 209 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 FSD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BE9L at 17,000 ft, 44 nm south, 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC): light rime icing from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 0 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 437 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CPR UA /OV DDY250025/TM 0942/FL170/TP BE9L/TA 00/IC LGT RIME 150-170/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CPR
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of DDY
- Time
- 09:42 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 6 forecast points nearest it (FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, LND, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 17 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 28 min | 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +17 kt | 16 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 28 min | 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 21 min | 11:18 am MDT (17:18 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 28 min | 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +20 kt | 2 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 40 min | 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +20 kt | -3 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 40 min | 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +20 kt | -8 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 40 min | 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 36 kt | +20 kt | -11 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 40 min | 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 43 kt | +25 kt | -23 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 01 min | 11:58 am MDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 49 kt | +37 kt | -32 °C | 83 kt | 8 h 01 min | 12:58 pm MDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 49 kt | +38 kt | -36 °C | 82 kt | 8 h 07 min | 1:04 pm MDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 52 kt | +42 kt | -45 °C | 78 kt | 8 h 32 min | 1:29 pm MDT (19:29 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° |
| ONL | used from 50 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 99 nm out; 50 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 199 nm out; 53 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° | |
| LND | used from 398 nm out; 114 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 597 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC) |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 60 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 1,304 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 129 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (010°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 2,032 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| PHP Philip, SD | 209 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist | from the east (080°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 800 ft | 2,209 ft | 10:13 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 278 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| HSG Thermopolis, WY | 507 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,700 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 4,891 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 567 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,298 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | 606 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 6,451 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,700 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,743 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IDA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:18 am MDT (17:18 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for IDA
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 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
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 IDA 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm MDT (01:17 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: Joe Foss Field, Idaho Falls Regional.