Gerald R Ford International to Salt Lake City International GRR → SLC
1,185 nautical miles (1,364 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 279° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC). Right now GRR is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 4 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 17 knots, gusting to 28. 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 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). Over the route from 269 to 598 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 558 to 777 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 747 to 986 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 827 to 1125 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 866 to 966 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 259 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 936 to 976 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 229 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 100 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 GRR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 10 nm north, 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. 120 nm along the route, 10 nm north 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
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 13 nm south, 7:35 am EDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 349 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 35 nm east (075°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:35 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 10 nm north, 7:45 am EDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 438 nm along the route, 10 nm north 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
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 9 forecast points nearest it (MKG, JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ONL, BFF, RKS, SLC). 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 25 kt | +24 kt | 22 °C | 96 kt | 12 h 21 min | 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 18 °C | 97 kt | 12 h 13 min | 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +22 kt | 13 °C | 98 kt | 12 h 06 min | 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +24 kt | 8 °C | 96 kt | 12 h 21 min | 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +25 kt | 3 °C | 95 kt | 12 h 28 min | 6:39 pm MDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -2 °C | 95 kt | 12 h 28 min | 6:39 pm MDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -7 °C | 95 kt | 12 h 28 min | 6:39 pm MDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -11 °C | 95 kt | 12 h 28 min | 6:39 pm MDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 38 kt | +34 kt | -22 °C | 86 kt | 13 h 47 min | 7:58 pm MDT (01:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 45 kt | +43 kt | -33 °C | 77 kt | 15 h 23 min | 9:34 pm MDT (03:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 48 kt | +48 kt | -38 °C | 72 kt | 16 h 27 min | 10:38 pm MDT (04:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | +53 kt | -46 °C | 67 kt | 17 h 41 min | 11:52 pm MDT (05:52 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; 17 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° |
| JOT | used from 100 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| DBQ | used from 149 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| MCW | used from 299 nm out; 24 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° |
| FSD | used from 448 nm out; 52 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 498 nm out; 59 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° | |
| BFF | used from 697 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| RKS | used from 946 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 1096 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/16 | 210/23 4° | 220/34 -3° | 210/40 -16° | 220/66 -23° | 220/64 -31° | 220/57 -36° | 220/50 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 793 ft | 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC) |
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | 100 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 728 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| UES Waukesha, WI | 120 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 911 ft | 11:45 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 299 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| LRJ Le Mars, IA | 468 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 1,197 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 478 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| RBE Bassett, NE | 617 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,349 ft | ||||
| TOR Torrington, WY | 827 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet | calm | 7 mi | 200 ft | 4,206 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 847 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 18,000 ft | 4,401 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 966 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| EVW Evanston, WY | 1135 nm out, 18 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 7,142 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 17 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 5:54 am MDT (11:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 4 miles, thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 3,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
The forecast for GRR, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 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 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 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 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC) and 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
- From Tue 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 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 GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm MDT (01:18 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, Salt Lake City International.