Grand Junction Regional to Idaho Falls Regional GJT → IDA
308 nautical miles (355 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 330°, about 321° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:23 am MDT (07:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GJT is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots, gusting to 15; IDA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) 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: 4 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 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 first 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 189 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 269 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 99 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 GJT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BE20 at 16,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 9:28 pm MDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. At the departure end, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIL
- Where
- over RIL
- Time
- 03:28 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Temperature
- −3 °C
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-11
- UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 30 nm east, 9:11 pm MDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. At the departure end, 30 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- C501 at 15,000 ft, 11 nm southeast, 8:32 pm MDT (02:32 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -2 °C, remarks: zdvwc. At the departure end, 11 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV JNC090020/TM 0232/FL150/TP C501/TA M02/TB INTMT LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- 20 nm east (090°) of JNC
- Time
- 02:32 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C501
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- CRJ7 at 6,300 ft, 39 nm southwest, 9:27 pm MDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 6,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. 288 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIH UA /OV KPIH/TM 0327/FL063/TP CRJ7/SK OVC063-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIH
- Where
- over KPIH
- Time
- 03:27 UTC
- Height
- at 6,300 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 6,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (GJT, RKS, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 30 kt | −15 kt | 7 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 17 min | 1:34 am MDT (07:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | −11 kt | 1 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 21 min | 1:38 am MDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −8 kt | -1 °C | 128 kt | 2 h 24 min | 1:41 am MDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −11 kt | -5 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 21 min | 1:38 am MDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −14 kt | -10 °C | 134 kt | 2 h 18 min | 1:35 am MDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 42 kt | −16 kt | -13 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 16 min | 1:33 am MDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 59 kt | −27 kt | -24 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 06 min | 1:23 am MDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 62 kt | −23 kt | -28 °C | 143 kt | 2 h 09 min | 1:26 am MDT (07:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 64 kt | −18 kt | -35 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 14 min | 1:31 am MDT (07:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 59 kt | −16 kt | -44 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 16 min | 1:33 am MDT (07:33 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 99 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 199 nm out; 77 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,861 ft | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
| VEL Vernal, UT | 90 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,274 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FBR Fort Bridger, WY | 159 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the west (260°) at 14 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 7,038 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| EMM Kemmerer, WY | 189 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,400 feet | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,288 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| AFO Afton, WY | 239 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,220 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 4,743 ft | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,288 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, 1:23 am MDT (07:23 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet and more above marginal VFR
The whole forecast for IDA
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 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 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
The forecast for GJT, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 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 GJT 6:40 pm MDT (00:40 UTC), at IDA 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IDA is before sunrise there (7:38 am MDT (13:38 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: Grand Junction Regional, Idaho Falls Regional.