Plan a flight · Mon 5:24 am MDT (11:24 UTC)

Helena Regional to Detroit Metro Wayne County HLN → DTW

1,249 nautical miles (1,437 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 092°, about 080° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:30 pm EDT (18:30 UTC). Right now HLN is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 8 knots; DTW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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

SIGMET C17C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 am MDT (12:55 UTC). Over the route from 440 to 499 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 121055
MKCC WST 121055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17C
VALID UNTIL 1255Z
SD ND
FROM 20NW BIS-60E BIS-20WNW PIR-20SW DPR-20NW BIS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
```
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 first 709 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 200 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 150 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 210 to 310 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 70 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 HLN.

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

B739 at 34,000 ft, 25 nm southwest, 4:58 am MDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. 1029 nm along the route, 25 nm southwest 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
CL35 at 6,000 ft, 21 nm northeast, 4:47 am MDT (10:47 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 2,600 ft; clear from 2,600 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear above 2,600 ft. At the destination end, 21 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270006/TM 1047/FL060/TP CL35/SK OVC014-TOP026/RM CLEAR ABOVE 026
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
10:47 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Sky
overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 2,600 ft
Remarks
clear above 2,600 ft
MD83 at 2,500 ft, 42 nm southwest, 4:43 am MDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. At the destination end, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
10:43 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
MD83
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
B739 at 9,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
clear
Wind
from 295° at 13 knots
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent

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 12 forecast points nearest it (GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB, MKG, FWA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	250° at 13 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	9 h 32 min	4:56 pm EDT (20:56 UTC)
5,500 ft	250° at 12 kt	−10 kt	5 °C	130 kt	9 h 36 min	5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 15 kt	−12 kt	11 °C	132 kt	9 h 28 min	4:52 pm EDT (20:52 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	−15 kt	6 °C	135 kt	9 h 15 min	4:39 pm EDT (20:39 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−17 kt	3 °C	137 kt	9 h 07 min	4:31 pm EDT (20:31 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−19 kt	-1 °C	139 kt	8 h 59 min	4:23 pm EDT (20:23 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 25 kt	−21 kt	-5 °C	141 kt	8 h 51 min	4:15 pm EDT (20:15 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−22 kt	-10 °C	142 kt	8 h 48 min	4:12 pm EDT (20:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 27 kt	−23 kt	-11 °C	143 kt	8 h 44 min	4:08 pm EDT (20:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 34 kt	−27 kt	-22 °C	147 kt	8 h 30 min	3:54 pm EDT (19:54 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 39 kt	−32 kt	-35 °C	152 kt	8 h 13 min	3:37 pm EDT (19:37 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 47 kt	−42 kt	-41 °C	162 kt	7 h 43 min	3:07 pm EDT (19:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 58 kt	−56 kt	-47 °C	176 kt	7 h 06 min	2:30 pm EDT (18:30 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
GTF	used from 0 nm out; 54 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 100 nm out; 45 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°
MLS	used from 200 nm out; 28 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°
DIK	used from 300 nm out; 68 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°
PIR	used from 450 nm out; 86 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°
ABR	used from 499 nm out; 45 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°
AXN	used from 649 nm out; 51 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°
MSP	used from 749 nm out; 22 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°
LSE	used from 849 nm out; 25 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°
GRB	used from 949 nm out; 64 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°
MKG	used from 1049 nm out; 36 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°
FWA	used from 1199 nm out; 102 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°

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
HLN Helena, MT	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	2,300 ft	3,877 ft	4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC)
HWQ Harlowton, MT	90 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	no report just now				4,311 ft
RPX Roundup, MT	140 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	no report just now				3,490 ft
BWW Bowman, ND	360 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	2,965 ft	11:15 UTC
HEI Hettinger, ND	390 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots	3 mi	300 ft	2,705 ft	11:06 UTC
ABR Aberdeen, SD	569 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots	5 mi	300 ft	1,301 ft	10:53 UTC
HCD Hutchinson, MN	739 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,062 ft	11:17 UTC
FCM Minneapolis, MN	779 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	906 ft	10:53 UTC
CMY Sparta, WI	909 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 19,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	839 ft	10:55 UTC
MKG Muskegon, MI	1109 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	10:55 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	1149 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 23,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	23,000 ft	793 ft	10:53 UTC
DTW Detroit, MI	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	8 mi	none	645 ft	6:53 am EDT (10:53 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 DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:30 pm EDT (18:30 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DTW

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 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 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Tue 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

The forecast for HLN, the departure

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet, overcast at 600 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 HLN 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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 now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Helena Regional, Detroit Metro Wayne County.