Plan a flight · Mon 8:57 am MDT (14:57 UTC)

Great Falls International to Hector International GTF → FAR

594 nautical miles (683 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 088°, about 075° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:24 pm CDT (18:24 UTC). Right now GTF is low IFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots; FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 10 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). Over the whole route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 247 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 89 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 247 to 544 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 GTF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

DC3T at 8,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 8:03 am MDT (14:03 UTC): light to moderate rime icing above 8,000 ft, -8 °C. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 300025/TM 1403/FL085/TP DC3T/TA M8/IC LGT-MOD RIME 080
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 300° at 25 knots
Time
14:03 UTC
Height
at 8,500 ft
Aircraft
DC3T
Temperature
−8 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime at 8,000 ft
A319 at 7,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC): overcast from 30,000 ft to 7,500 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 180010/TM 1341/FL075/TP A319/SK OVC003-TOPS075
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 180° at 10 knots
Time
13:41 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 300 ft, tops 7,500 ft
B752 at 41,000 ft, 48 nm southwest, 6:31 am MDT (12:31 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 41,000 ft. At the departure end, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN009010/TM 1231/FL410/TP B752/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 410/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm north (009°) of HLN
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate 410/ZLC
P212 at 8,000 ft, 44 nm north, 8:45 am MDT (14:45 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -5 °C. 89 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HVR UA /OV HVR110030/TM 1445/FL080/TP P212/TA M5/TB NEG/IC LGT CLR /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HVR
Where
30 nm east (110°) of HVR
Time
14:45 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
P212
Temperature
−5 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light clear zlc
C340 at 6,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 8:55 am MDT (14:55 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -2 °C. 247 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDY UA /OV SDY240043/TM 1455/FL060/TP C340/TA M02/TB NEG/IC LGT CLR/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDY
Where
43 nm southwest (240°) of SDY
Time
14:55 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
C340
Temperature
−2 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light clr/zlc
CRJ7 at 29,500 ft, 26 nm south, 6:45 am MDT (12:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 327 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK270030/TM 1245/FL295/TP CRJ7/SK TOP 295/TB LGT CHOP/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DIK
Time
12:45 UTC
Height
at 29,500 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
top 29,500 ft
Turbulence
light chop/zlc
C414 at 8,000 ft, 35 nm south, 8:19 am MDT (14:19 UTC): no icing, 7 °C. 366 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK090020/TM 1419/FL080/TP C414/SK TOP080/TA 07/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
20 nm east (090°) of DIK
Time
14:19 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
C414
Sky
TOP080
Temperature
7 °C
Icing
none
B38M at 34,000 ft, 37 nm north, 8:49 am MDT (14:49 UTC): no turbulence. 435 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOT UA /OV MOT120035/TM 1449/FL340/TP B38M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOT
Where
35 nm southeast (120°) of MOT
Time
14:49 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
C525 at 3,500 ft, 29 nm south, 7:43 am MDT (13:43 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 3 °C, remarks: during the descent. 435 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS/TM 1343/FL035/TP C525/SK BASES 020 TOPS 055/TA 03/IC TR RIME/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
over BIS
Time
13:43 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
C525
Sky
bases 2,000 ft tops 5,500 ft
Temperature
3 °C
Icing
tr rime
Remarks
during the descent
PA46 at 7,000 ft, 29 nm south, 7:11 am MDT (13:11 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 435 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS/TM 1311/FL070/TP PA46/SK TOPS 062/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
over BIS
Time
13:11 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Sky
tops 6,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb
P46T descending, 29 nm south, 6:41 am MDT (12:41 UTC): overcast from 2,000 ft to 5,600 ft. 435 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV KBIS/TM 1241/FLDURD/TP P46T/SK OVC020-TOP056
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
over KBIS
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P46T
Sky
overcast from 2,000 ft, tops 5,600 ft
PC12 at 3,500 ft, 5 nm east, 7:39 am MDT (13:39 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 3,500 ft, 10 °C. At the destination end, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR270005/TM 1339/FL035/TP PC12/SK OVC012-TOP035/TA 10
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
5 nm west (270°) of KFAR
Time
13:39 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Temperature
10 °C
K100 at 2,800 ft, 39 nm east, 7:07 am MDT (13:07 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 10 °C. At the destination end, 39 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTL UA /OV DTL/TM 1307/FL028/TP K100/SK BASE028/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTL
Where
over DTL
Time
13:07 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
K100
Sky
BASE028
Temperature
10 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
TBM8 at 2,700 ft, 0 nm southwest, 7:03 am MDT (13:03 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 2,700 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 1303/FL027/TP TBM8/SK OVC013-TOP027
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
13:03 UTC
Height
at 2,700 ft
Aircraft
TBM8
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 2,700 ft

3 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (GTF, GGW, MLS, DIK, MOT, GFK). 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	350° at 3 kt	−1 kt	-1 °C	121 kt	4 h 55 min	2:52 pm CDT (19:52 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 4 kt	−3 kt	1 °C	123 kt	4 h 50 min	2:47 pm CDT (19:47 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 11 kt	−7 kt	0 °C	127 kt	4 h 41 min	2:38 pm CDT (19:38 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 17 kt	−13 kt	-1 °C	133 kt	4 h 28 min	2:25 pm CDT (19:25 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	−16 kt	-4 °C	136 kt	4 h 22 min	2:19 pm CDT (19:19 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−18 kt	-8 °C	138 kt	4 h 18 min	2:15 pm CDT (19:15 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	−21 kt	-12 °C	141 kt	4 h 13 min	2:10 pm CDT (19:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 28 kt	−21 kt	-13 °C	141 kt	4 h 13 min	2:10 pm CDT (19:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 30 kt	−20 kt	-26 °C	140 kt	4 h 15 min	2:12 pm CDT (19:12 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 44 kt	−29 kt	-35 °C	149 kt	3 h 59 min	1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 56 kt	−40 kt	-39 °C	160 kt	3 h 43 min	1:40 pm CDT (18:40 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 61 kt	−52 kt	-44 °C	172 kt	3 h 27 min	1:24 pm CDT (18:24 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
GTF	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line		L/V	L/V -4°	230/12 -3°	210/12 -17°	190/23 -29°	200/48 -39°	210/69 -39°	220/66 -42°
GGW	used from 99 nm out; 80 nm from the line		360/9 -3°	L/V -4°	250/12 -4°	250/21 -12°	230/25 -27°	220/53 -34°	230/59 -38°	240/64 -44°
MLS	used from 247 nm out; 79 nm from the line		320/9 -2°	270/14 0°	260/22 -1°	220/30 -14°	210/43 -26°	230/53 -34°	230/54 -38°	230/59 -44°
DIK	used from 297 nm out; 45 nm from the line		330/11 1°	230/20 4°	220/22 0°	230/29 -12°	240/27 -25°	240/40 -34°	230/49 -37°	240/55 -44°
MOT	used from 396 nm out; 60 nm from the line		L/V 2°	220/12 2°	220/27 0°	220/36 -12°	230/33 -24°	230/39 -34°	230/50 -39°	250/63 -46°
GFK	used from 495 nm out; 78 nm from the line	100/10	150/9 10°	200/19 7°	230/27 1°	240/51 -11°	230/43 -23°	230/40 -36°	240/56 -40°	260/67 -47°

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
GTF Great Falls, MT	departure	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	400 ft	3,680 ft	7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC)
JDN Jordan, MT	178 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots		none	2,667 ft	14:48 UTC
SDY Sidney, MT	287 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	1,985 ft	13:56 UTC
HZE Hazen, ND	396 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots	5 mi	700 ft	1,814 ft	08:15 UTC
JMS Jamestown, ND	515 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots	1.75 mi	700 ft	1,499 ft	14:48 UTC
BAC Valley City, ND	544 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	700 ft	1,401 ft	05:55 UTC
FAR Fargo, ND	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (010°) at 10 knots	1.5 mi	300 ft	901 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,680 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:24 pm CDT (18:24 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet IFR

The whole forecast for FAR

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet

The forecast for GTF, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ¾ mile, mist, sky obscured at 300 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, overcast at 400 feet
From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 500 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 GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC), at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 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

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Great Falls International, Hector International.