Gerald R Ford International to Portland International GRR → PDX
1,589 nautical miles (1,828 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 289°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC). Right now GRR is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots; PDX is VFR, wind calm. 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: 58 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 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 679 to 739 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 TANGO 3W: 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 130 to 270 nm out.
- 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 route from 460 to 1309 nm out.
- 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 809 to 859 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 819 to 1019 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1009 to 1399 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1019 to 1429 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 1159 to 1579 nm out.
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 GRR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E73L descending, 17 nm south, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 1109 nm along the route, 17 nm south 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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (MKG, GRB, LSE, MSP, AXN, ABR, PIR, DIK, MLS, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, PDX). 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 | 260° at 9 kt | +8 kt | 4 °C | 112 kt | 14 h 11 min | 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 11 kt | +9 kt | 8 °C | 111 kt | 14 h 19 min | 4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | +10 kt | 5 °C | 110 kt | 14 h 27 min | 4:10 pm PDT (23:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | +12 kt | 1 °C | 108 kt | 14 h 43 min | 4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +13 kt | -1 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 51 min | 4:34 pm PDT (23:34 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +13 kt | -6 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 51 min | 4:34 pm PDT (23:34 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +12 kt | -10 °C | 108 kt | 14 h 43 min | 4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 14 kt | +12 kt | -13 °C | 108 kt | 14 h 43 min | 4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 25 kt | +19 kt | -24 °C | 101 kt | 15 h 44 min | 5:27 pm PDT (00:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 29 kt | +24 kt | -35 °C | 96 kt | 16 h 33 min | 6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 37 kt | +32 kt | -40 °C | 88 kt | 18 h 03 min | 7:46 pm PDT (02:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 47 kt | +44 kt | -46 °C | 76 kt | 20 h 54 min | 10:37 pm PDT (05:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 12 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° |
| GRB | used from 100 nm out; 58 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° |
| LSE | used from 200 nm out; 35 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° |
| MSP | used from 300 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| AXN | used from 400 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| ABR | used from 500 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| PIR | used from 650 nm out; 71 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° | |
| DIK | used from 699 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| MLS | used from 799 nm out; 75 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 949 nm out; 29 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° | |
| DLN | used from 1099 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| LWS | used from 1249 nm out; 82 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| YKM | used from 1449 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| PDX | used from 1549 nm out; 20 nm from the line | L/V | 340/8 0° | 360/12 -6° | 010/30 -7° | 360/62 -15° | 360/67 -26° | 360/68 -40° | 350/61 -48° | 340/26 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | departure | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 793 ft | 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC) |
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 40 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CMY Sparta, WI | 240 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 839 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 360 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 906 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| DXX Madison, MN | 480 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 1,082 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 660 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 9 mi | 500 ft | 1,716 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 999 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | 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 | 07:53 UTC |
| BTM Butte, MT | 1169 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 5,550 ft | 08:02 UTC |
| PDT Pendleton, OR | 1429 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,494 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| PSC Pasco, WA | 1439 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 410 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| PDX Portland, OR | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 30 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,550 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PDX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PDX
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for GRR, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
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 GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at PDX 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 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: Gerald R Ford International, Portland International.