Idaho Falls Regional to Southwest Wyoming Regional IDA → RKS
176 nautical miles (202 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 130°, about 118° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:40 pm MDT (02:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IDA is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots; RKS is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24. 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 first 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 166 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 156 nm of the route.
- 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 last 137 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 IDA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 descending, 43 nm northeast, 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC): overcast above 7,500 ft, remarks: braking action good during the descent RY19. 39 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV JAC/TM 0054/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC075/RM BRAKING ACTION GOOD DURD RY19
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- over JAC
- Time
- 00:54 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- overcast from 7,500 ft
- Remarks
- braking action good during the descent RY19
- PC12 at 15,000 ft, 18 nm northeast, 5:47 pm MDT (23:47 UTC): light rime icing above 15,000 ft. 39 nm along the route, 18 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV JAC200025/TM 2347/FL150/TP PC12/IC LGT RIME 150 /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- 25 nm south (200°) of JAC
- Time
- 23:47 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Icing
- light rime at 15,000 ft zlc
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 5:03 pm MDT (23:03 UTC): light rime icing, -6 °C. 59 nm along the route, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV JAC160030/TM 2303/FL170/TP CRJ7/TA M6/IC LGT RIME /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- 30 nm south (160°) of JAC
- Time
- 23:03 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Temperature
- −6 °C
- Icing
- light rime zlc
- A320 at 33,000 ft, 5 nm east, 4:24 pm MDT (22:24 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. 147 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
RKS UA /OV OCS306029/TM 2224/FL330/TP A320/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through RKS
- Where
- 29 nm northwest (306°) of OCS
- Time
- 22:24 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate zlc
- UAL2395 at 37,000 ft, 3 nm east, 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC): no turbulence, wind 240° at 70 knots. At the destination end, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2395 4135N 10900W 0058 F370 240/070KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 2 forecast points nearest it (PIH, RKS). 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 | 270° at 10 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 1 h 22 min | 8:45 pm MDT (02:45 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 1 h 32 min | 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC) | |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 24 kt | +5 kt | 0 °C | 115 kt | 1 h 32 min | 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 35 kt | +7 kt | -2 °C | 113 kt | 1 h 33 min | 8:56 pm MDT (02:56 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 42 kt | +9 kt | -2 °C | 111 kt | 1 h 35 min | 8:58 pm MDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 48 kt | +12 kt | -6 °C | 108 kt | 1 h 38 min | 9:01 pm MDT (03:01 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 200° at 55 kt | +15 kt | -9 °C | 105 kt | 1 h 41 min | 9:04 pm MDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 200° at 56 kt | +16 kt | -10 °C | 104 kt | 1 h 42 min | 9:05 pm MDT (03:05 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 200° at 53 kt | +15 kt | -22 °C | 105 kt | 1 h 41 min | 9:04 pm MDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 200° at 58 kt | +17 kt | -33 °C | 103 kt | 1 h 43 min | 9:06 pm MDT (03:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 71 kt | −4 kt | -37 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 25 min | 8:48 pm MDT (02:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 74 kt | −18 kt | -45 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 17 min | 8:40 pm MDT (02:40 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH | used from 0 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 270/10 | 270/13 1° | 210/16 -2° | 200/56 -11° | 200/51 -23° | 200/68 -33° | 220/77 -37° | 230/73 -44° | |
| RKS | used from 98 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 190/43 | 210/65 3° | 210/57 -9° | 210/56 -21° | 210/47 -33° | 230/63 -37° | 240/77 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 4,743 ft | 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) |
| AFO Afton, WY | 68 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 6,220 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 98 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,993 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 6,764 ft | 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RKS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:40 pm MDT (02:40 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RKS
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
The forecast for IDA, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 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 IDA 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC), at RKS 6:40 pm MDT (00:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm MDT (01:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RKS is after sunset there (6:41 pm MDT (00:41 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: Idaho Falls Regional, Southwest Wyoming Regional.