Helena Regional to Newark Liberty International HLN → EWR
1,664 nautical miles (1,915 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 088°, about 076° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC). Right now HLN is marginal VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 8 knots; EWR is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 13 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 10 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- 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 678 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 219 to 259 nm out.
- 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 867 to 996 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 518 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1435 to 1594 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 189 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
- urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 9:15 pm MDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 1375 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
- Report
- an urgent report filed through DKK
- Where
- 40 nm west (280°) of DKK
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- no inj/dmg zob
- A319 at 23,000 ft, 46 nm south, 9:21 pm MDT (03:21 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MJX UA /OV CYN345010/TM 0321/FL230/TP A319/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through MJX
- Where
- 10 nm north (345°) of CYN
- Time
- 03:21 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- moderate
- GA6C descending, 42 nm north, 10:32 pm MDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. At the destination end, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 14 forecast points nearest it (GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB, TVC, CLE, BUF, AVP, JFK). 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 11 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 12 h 48 min | 2:39 pm EDT (18:39 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 6 kt | −5 kt | 5 °C | 125 kt | 13 h 19 min | 3:10 pm EDT (19:10 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 9 kt | −8 kt | 10 °C | 128 kt | 13 h | 2:51 pm EDT (18:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | −11 kt | 6 °C | 131 kt | 12 h 42 min | 2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −15 kt | 3 °C | 135 kt | 12 h 20 min | 2:11 pm EDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −18 kt | -1 °C | 138 kt | 12 h 03 min | 1:54 pm EDT (17:54 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 11 h 48 min | 1:39 pm EDT (17:39 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -9 °C | 145 kt | 11 h 29 min | 1:20 pm EDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -10 °C | 145 kt | 11 h 29 min | 1:20 pm EDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -21 °C | 148 kt | 11 h 15 min | 1:06 pm EDT (17:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -36 °C | 153 kt | 10 h 53 min | 12:44 pm EDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 43 kt | −42 kt | -43 °C | 162 kt | 10 h 16 min | 12:07 pm EDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | −54 kt | -50 °C | 174 kt | 9 h 34 min | 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 52 nm from the line | 070/11 | 080/15 -7° | 110/19 -9° | 190/25 -14° | 200/34 -23° | 200/54 -39° | 220/66 -40° | 220/77 -44° | |
| BIL | used from 100 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 199 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| DIK | used from 299 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| ABR | used from 498 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| AXN | used from 648 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 100/14 | 250/21 14° | 240/24 12° | 240/31 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/40 -21° | 250/42 -36° | 260/48 -45° | 260/53 -50° |
| MSP | used from 747 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| LSE | used from 847 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| GRB | used from 947 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| TVC | used from 1046 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 260/31 | 280/22 15° | 290/18 10° | 270/13 2° | 290/25 -10° | 300/35 -21° | 310/52 -37° | 320/59 -47° | 300/84 -54° |
| CLE | used from 1245 nm out; 109 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| BUF | used from 1345 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| AVP | used from 1495 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| JFK | used from 1644 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 250/18 | 250/23 14° | 240/33 9° | 240/33 4° | 240/38 -10° | 240/45 -21° | 230/86 -32° | 230/102 -40° | 230/84 -51° |
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 few clouds at 1,600 feet, a few clouds at 2,600 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 4,100 ft | 3,877 ft | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
| RPX Roundup, MT | 139 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| MLS Miles City, MT | 249 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 2,634 ft | 05:43 UTC |
| BWW Bowman, ND | 359 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the east (100°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,965 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ETH Wheaton, MN | 638 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 1.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,022 ft | 05:33 UTC |
| STC St Cloud, MN | 747 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,030 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CWA Mosinee, WI | 937 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 24,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,277 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 1006 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 695 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | 1196 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 668 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ELZ Wellsville, NY | 1475 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 300 ft | 2,124 ft | 05:05 UTC |
| AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA | 1584 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 961 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| EWR Newark, NJ | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 17 ft | 1:38 am EDT (05:38 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At EWR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC)
Wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for EWR
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
The forecast for HLN, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 14 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, overcast at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, light snow, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light snow, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, 777 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP
- 5/2811 NEW YORK, NY, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 20 October · ZNY
Daylight
Sunset at HLN 6:46 pm MDT (00:46 UTC), at EWR 6:21 pm EDT (22:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 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, Newark Liberty International.