Joe Foss Field to Mbs International FSD → MBS
550 nautical miles (633 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 081° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 59-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:12 am EDT (15:12 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; MBS is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 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: 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). Near the route, 138 nm along the route.
- 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). Near the route, 511 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 10 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
- E170 at 15,000 ft, 40 nm north, 6:56 am CDT (11:56 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 305 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
Y50 UA /OV Y50330025/TM 1156/FL150/TP E170/TB MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through Y50
- Where
- 25 nm northwest (330°) of Y50
- Time
- 11:56 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 39 nm south, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 49 nm along the route, 39 nm south 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
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 36 nm south, 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. 364 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through UES
- Where
- over BAE
- Time
- 10:58 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 12 nm south, 6:49 am CDT (11:49 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FNT UA /OV FNT340025/TM 1149/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FNT
- Where
- 25 nm north (340°) of FNT
- Time
- 11:49 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 5 forecast points nearest it (FSD, MCW, LSE, GRB, MKG). 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 26 kt | −24 kt | 144 kt | 3 h 49 min | 11:57 am EDT (15:57 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −20 kt | 140 kt | 3 h 56 min | 12:04 pm EDT (16:04 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −19 kt | 14 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 57 min | 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 9 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 57 min | 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 6 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 51 min | 11:59 am EDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 2 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 48 min | 11:56 am EDT (15:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 25 kt | −26 kt | -4 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 46 min | 11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -9 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 46 min | 11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 26 kt | −27 kt | -10 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 44 min | 11:52 am EDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 32 kt | −32 kt | -21 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 37 min | 11:45 am EDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 37 kt | −37 kt | -36 °C | 157 kt | 3 h 30 min | 11:38 am EDT (15:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 47 kt | −47 kt | -42 °C | 167 kt | 3 h 18 min | 11:26 am EDT (15:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 60 kt | −59 kt | -49 °C | 179 kt | 3 h 04 min | 11:12 am EDT (15:12 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° |
| MCW | used from 98 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| LSE | used from 197 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| GRB | used from 295 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKG | used from 393 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -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) |
| OTG Worthington, MN | 49 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 1,574 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| MJQ Jackson, MN | 79 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,445 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| AEL Albert Lea, MN | 147 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,261 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 187 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 8 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 236 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| DLL Baraboo, WI | 305 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 980 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| OSH Oshkosh, WI | 354 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 808 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| RQB Big Rapids, MI | 491 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 994 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| MOP Mount Pleasant, MI | 521 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | destination | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | none | 668 ft | 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,574 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MBS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:12 am EDT (15:12 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MBS
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- At times between Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Tue 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at MBS 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 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, Mbs International.