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 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC). 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 C15C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 4:55 am MDT (10:55 UTC). Over the route from 410 to 440 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120855 MKCC WST 120855 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15C VALID UNTIL 1055Z SD ND FROM 50SE DIK-50ENE DPR-40ENE RAP-50NNW RAP-50SE DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- 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 230 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 240 to 330 nm out.
- 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 829 to 999 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, fog). Over the last 90 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
Not fetched just now.
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 | 3:18 pm EDT (19:18 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 12 kt | −10 kt | 5 °C | 130 kt | 9 h 36 min | 3:22 pm EDT (19:22 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | −12 kt | 11 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 28 min | 3:14 pm EDT (19:14 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −15 kt | 6 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 15 min | 3:01 pm EDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 3 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 07 min | 2:53 pm EDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −19 kt | -1 °C | 139 kt | 8 h 59 min | 2:45 pm EDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 8 h 51 min | 2:37 pm EDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | −22 kt | -10 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 48 min | 2:34 pm EDT (18:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 27 kt | −23 kt | -11 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 44 min | 2:30 pm EDT (18:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | −27 kt | -22 °C | 147 kt | 8 h 30 min | 2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 39 kt | −32 kt | -35 °C | 152 kt | 8 h 13 min | 1:59 pm EDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 47 kt | −42 kt | -41 °C | 162 kt | 7 h 43 min | 1:29 pm EDT (17:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 58 kt | −56 kt | -47 °C | 176 kt | 7 h 06 min | 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | no report just now | 3,877 ft | ||||
| 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 | no report just now | 2,965 ft | ||||
| HEI Hettinger, ND | 390 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,705 ft | ||||
| ABR Aberdeen, SD | 569 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,301 ft | ||||
| HCD Hutchinson, MN | 739 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,062 ft | ||||
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 779 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 906 ft | ||||
| CMY Sparta, WI | 909 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 839 ft | ||||
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 1109 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 628 ft | ||||
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 1149 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 793 ft | ||||
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | no report just now | 645 ft |
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, 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC)
DTW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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
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.