Jackson Hole Airport to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field JAC → MSN
932 nautical miles (1,072 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 071° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:15 am CDT (11:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now JAC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 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: 3 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 218 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 188 nm of the route.
- 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 route from 40 to 575 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 268 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 69 to 307 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 89 to 317 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 734 to 922 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 JAC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (LND, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW, LSE, DBQ). 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 | 210° at 22 kt | −11 kt | 15 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 07 min | 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | −11 kt | 12 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 07 min | 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 23 kt | −12 kt | 10 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 04 min | 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −16 kt | 6 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 51 min | 7:48 am CDT (12:48 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −18 kt | 1 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 45 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −20 kt | -3 °C | 140 kt | 6 h 39 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −21 kt | -8 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 37 min | 7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 34 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 32 kt | −28 kt | -21 °C | 148 kt | 6 h 18 min | 7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | −34 kt | -34 °C | 154 kt | 6 h 03 min | 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | −46 kt | -40 °C | 166 kt | 5 h 37 min | 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 57 kt | −56 kt | -48 °C | 176 kt | 5 h 18 min | 6:15 am CDT (11:15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LND | used from 0 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| RAP | used from 198 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 397 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 545 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MCW | used from 694 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| LSE | used from 793 nm out; 40 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° |
| DBQ | used from 892 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAC Jackson, WY | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,700 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,700 ft | 6,451 ft | 10:56 pm MDT (04:56 UTC) |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 50 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light drizzle | calm | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 7,298 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| HSG Thermopolis, WY | 99 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 4,891 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 278 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (100°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,177 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 337 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms, light rain, mist | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| PHP Philip, SD | 397 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,209 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 555 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,304 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 605 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| SBU Blue Earth, MN | 724 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,107 ft | ||||
| CJJ Cresco, IA | 813 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,279 ft | ||||
| LNR Lone Rock, WI | 892 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 717 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:15 am CDT (11:15 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSN
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for JAC, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 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 JAC 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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: Jackson Hole Airport, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.