Spokane International to Billings Logan International GEG → BIL
386 nautical miles (444 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 103°, about 089° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:02 am MDT (12:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GEG is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 11 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: 28 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 376 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 198 nm of the route.
- 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 326 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 316 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 GEG.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E73L descending, 37 nm southwest, 11:20 pm PDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 287 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E73L
- Remarks
- breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
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 4 forecast points nearest it (GEG, GPI, GTF, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 360° at 3 kt | −1 kt | -3 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 11 min | 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 2 kt | −1 kt | -5 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 11 min | 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 270° at 2 kt | −2 kt | -6 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 10 min | 6:27 am MDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 5 kt | −4 kt | -7 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 07 min | 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 8 kt | −5 kt | -9 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 05 min | 6:22 am MDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 12 kt | −6 kt | -12 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 04 min | 6:21 am MDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | −6 kt | -16 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 04 min | 6:21 am MDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 16 kt | −6 kt | -16 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 04 min | 6:21 am MDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 28 kt | −9 kt | -29 °C | 129 kt | 3 h | 6:17 am MDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 30 kt | −8 kt | -37 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 01 min | 6:18 am MDT (12:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 210° at 46 kt | −12 kt | -38 °C | 132 kt | 2 h 55 min | 6:12 am MDT (12:12 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 50 kt | −20 kt | -43 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 45 min | 6:02 am MDT (12:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEG | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| GPI | used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 148 nm out; 91 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| BIL | used from 297 nm out; 64 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEG Spokane, WA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 2,385 ft | 1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC) |
| COE Coeur D'Alene, ID | 30 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 2,320 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| THM Thompson Falls, MT | 89 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,467 ft | ||||
| MSO Missoula, MT | 148 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 3,205 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| HLN Helena, MT | 237 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet | from the west (260°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,600 ft | 3,877 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| HWQ Harlowton, MT | 326 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,311 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north (350°) at 11 knots | 4 mi | 1,800 ft | 3,662 ft | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,311 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, 6:02 am MDT (12:02 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 marginal VFR
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 GEG, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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 GEG 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 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: Spokane International, Billings Logan International.