The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC)

Falls Intl/Einarson Field to San Francisco International INL → SFO

1,418 nautical miles (1,632 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 253°, about 250° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:52 pm PDT (23:52 UTC). Right now INL is marginal VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 10 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 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 return flight

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 C18C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 260 to 290 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS32 KKCI 121155
    MKCC WST 121155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18C
    VALID UNTIL 1355Z
    SD ND
    FROM 50NE BIS-70W FAR-40N PIR-40N DPR-50NE BIS
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
  • SIGMET W23W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 889 to 909 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 121155
    MKCW WST 121155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 23W
    VALID UNTIL 1355Z
    UT ID
    FROM 20WSW PIH-20NE MLD-30SW SLC-20NW BVL-20WSW PIH
    AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
  • 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 939 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 509 to 1109 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 609 to 1079 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 250 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1298 to 1318 nm out.

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 INL.

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

  • P28A at 4,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,800 ft, 10 °C. 180 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FAR UA /OV KFAR270015/TM 0927/FL040/TP P28A/SK OVC013-TOP038/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
    Report
    a routine report filed through FAR
    Where
    15 nm west (270°) of KFAR
    Time
    09:27 UTC
    Height
    at 4,000 ft
    Aircraft
    P28A
    Sky
    overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,800 ft
    Temperature
    10 °C
    Turbulence
    none
    Icing
    none
  • C340 at 24,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 5:59 am CDT (10:59 UTC): light to moderate icing, -22 °C. 439 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DIK UA /OV DIK240054/TM 1059/FL240/TP C340/TA M22/IC LGT-MOD CLR /ZLC
    Report
    a routine report filed through DIK
    Where
    54 nm southwest (240°) of DIK
    Time
    10:59 UTC
    Height
    at 24,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C340
    Temperature
    −22 °C
    Icing
    light to moderate clear zlc
  • CRJ7 at 4,800 ft, 15 nm northwest, 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC): overcast above 4,800 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 21 pih. 869 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PIH UA /OV KPIH/TM 1210/FL048/TP CRJ7/SK OVC048-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY21 PIH
    Report
    a routine report filed through PIH
    Where
    over KPIH
    Time
    12:10 UTC
    Height
    at 4,800 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    overcast from 4,800 ft, tops unknown
    Remarks
    during the descent runway 21 pih

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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even 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 (INL, GFK, MOT, DIK, MLS, BIL, LND, PIH, BAM, RNO, SAC, SFO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft070° at 2 kt−2 kt2 °C122 kt11 h 37 min4:52 pm PDT (23:52 UTC)
6,500 ft250° at 3 kt+3 kt5 °C117 kt12 h 07 min5:22 pm PDT (00:22 UTC)
8,500 ft240° at 10 kt+10 kt3 °C110 kt12 h 53 min6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC)
10,500 ft240° at 18 kt+18 kt0 °C102 kt13 h 54 min7:09 pm PDT (02:09 UTC)
12,500 ft240° at 25 kt+24 kt-3 °C96 kt14 h 46 min8:01 pm PDT (03:01 UTC)
14,500 ft230° at 26 kt+26 kt-7 °C94 kt15 h 05 min8:20 pm PDT (03:20 UTC)
16,500 ft230° at 28 kt+28 kt-11 °C92 kt15 h 25 min8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180230° at 29 kt+29 kt-14 °C91 kt15 h 35 min8:50 pm PDT (03:50 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 28 kt+28 kt-25 °C92 kt15 h 25 min8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 40 kt+39 kt-33 °C81 kt17 h 30 min10:45 pm PDT (05:45 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340240° at 48 kt+48 kt-39 °C72 kt19 h 42 min12:57 am PDT (07:57 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390240° at 53 kt+54 kt-45 °C66 kt21 h 29 min2:44 am PDT (09:44 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
INLused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line090/25L/V 8°250/20 6°270/32 1°270/44 -11°280/48 -22°280/56 -38°270/50 -47°280/83 -50°
GFKused from 100 nm out; 32 nm from the line080/18L/V 11°260/22 7°250/48 3°260/51 -11°250/44 -22°260/34 -38°260/53 -44°270/66 -49°
MOTused from 250 nm out; 92 nm from the line120/14 4°190/25 5°220/41 1°240/43 -11°230/39 -22°220/44 -38°240/62 -42°250/73 -48°
DIKused from 300 nm out; 76 nm from the line190/12 5°230/29 7°220/33 1°220/43 -11°210/47 -23°220/53 -33°240/56 -40°250/72 -47°
MLSused from 449 nm out; 78 nm from the line290/17 -1°250/18 0°230/25 0°220/31 -11°220/32 -24°220/50 -32°220/60 -38°230/71 -46°
BILused from 599 nm out; 83 nm from the line300/14270/19 -2°260/26 -2°220/28 -13°210/51 -25°220/56 -33°220/61 -39°220/72 -45°
LNDused from 649 nm out; 89 nm from the line240/10 3°240/30 0°220/42 -13°230/52 -23°220/54 -33°220/52 -36°220/53 -44°
PIHused from 799 nm out; 48 nm from the line070/8150/19 1°180/32 -4°210/44 -17°210/37 -28°210/74 -31°220/68 -35°220/60 -43°
BAMused from 999 nm out; 82 nm from the line280/9 -2°260/18 -8°190/47 -19°200/50 -29°210/56 -29°220/54 -34°220/45 -42°
RNOused from 1199 nm out; 35 nm from the line010/6270/12 -3°220/26 -10°280/13 -19°350/44 -24°320/30 -32°260/22 -36°240/24 -42°
SACused from 1298 nm out; 35 nm from the lineL/VL/V 4°340/9 -4°340/22 -8°360/71 -12°360/82 -23°350/58 -37°310/30 -40°270/25 -44°
SFOused from 1398 nm out; 10 nm from the line090/9050/12 4°010/17 -2°350/34 -3°360/70 -11°360/75 -22°350/57 -38°330/37 -42°280/25 -44°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
INL International Falls, MN departure marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet from the east (080°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 1,200 ft 1,184 ft 6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC)
CKN Crookston, MN 140 nm out, 4 nm east of the line marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet from the north (010°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 1,100 ft 896 ft 11:55 UTC
GFK Grand Forks, ND 160 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist from the north (010°) at 11 knots 2 mi 400 ft 845 ft 11:53 UTC
BIS Bismarck, ND 320 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots 6 mi 600 ft 1,661 ft 11:52 UTC
BWW Bowman, ND 429 nm out, 6 nm north of the line low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: unknown precipitation from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots 0.75 mi 300 ft 2,965 ft 11:55 UTC
GEY Greybull, WY 649 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 1,300 ft 3,941 ft 11:53 UTC
JAC Jackson, WY 779 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet from the north (010°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 11,000 ft 6,451 ft 11:56 UTC
PIH Pocatello, ID 869 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: rain from the west-southwest (250°) at 13 knots 7 mi 1,300 ft 4,451 ft 11:53 UTC
BAM Battle Mountain, NV 1109 nm out, 3 nm east of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 9,000 ft 4,536 ft 11:55 UTC
RNO Reno, NV 1249 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet from the north (360°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 6,500 ft 4,414 ft 11:55 UTC
CCR Concord, CA 1388 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 25 ft 11:53 UTC
SFO San Francisco, CA destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 13 ft 4:56 am PDT (11:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,451 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:52 pm PDT (23:52 UTC)

Wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SFO
  • From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for INL, the departure
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 10 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 900 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
  • From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 500 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/4348 GRAND FORKS AFB, ND, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 170 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at INL 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC), at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 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 upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the northern Rockies
Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Pacific Northwest
Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Falls Intl/Einarson Field, San Francisco International.