Helena Regional to Louisville Muhammad Ali International HLN → SDF
1,262 nautical miles (1,452 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 104°, about 092° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:21 pm EDT (17:21 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 377 to 437 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 626 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 169 to 318 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 318 to 368 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 616 to 983 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 89 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 13 forecast points nearest it (GTF, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, EVV, LOU). 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 | 260° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 13 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 17 min | 2:59 pm EDT (18:59 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −14 kt | 13 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 25 min | 3:07 pm EDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 7 °C | 133 kt | 9 h 29 min | 3:11 pm EDT (19:11 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −14 kt | 4 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 25 min | 3:07 pm EDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −14 kt | 0 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 25 min | 3:07 pm EDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −15 kt | -4 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 21 min | 3:03 pm EDT (19:03 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −15 kt | -8 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 21 min | 3:03 pm EDT (19:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | −15 kt | -9 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 21 min | 3:03 pm EDT (19:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | −19 kt | -22 °C | 139 kt | 9 h 05 min | 2:47 pm EDT (18:47 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 42 kt | −31 kt | -33 °C | 151 kt | 8 h 21 min | 2:03 pm EDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 48 kt | −38 kt | -38 °C | 158 kt | 7 h 59 min | 1:41 pm EDT (17:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | −45 kt | -47 °C | 165 kt | 7 h 39 min | 1:21 pm EDT (17:21 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; 59 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 50 nm out; 76 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 199 nm out; 64 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° | |
| RAP | used from 298 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 447 nm out; 47 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° | |
| ONL | used from 546 nm out; 68 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° | |
| FSD | used from 646 nm out; 46 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° |
| OMA | used from 745 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 795 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| BRL | used from 894 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| SPI | used from 993 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| EVV | used from 1142 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| LOU | used from 1192 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -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 | no report just now | 3,877 ft | ||||
| HWQ Harlowton, MT | 89 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,311 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | 149 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,662 ft | ||||
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 358 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| PHP Philip, SD | 467 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,209 ft | ||||
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 616 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,477 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 715 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,098 ft | ||||
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 844 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| FSW Fort Madison, IA | 964 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 721 ft | ||||
| SPI Springfield, IL | 1053 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 597 ft | ||||
| RSV Robinson, IL | 1162 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 461 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | no report just now | 500 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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:21 pm EDT (17:21 UTC)
SDF 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 SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.