Purdue University Airport to Bellingham International LAF → BLI
1,586 nautical miles (1,825 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 300°, about 301° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:52 pm PDT (20:52 UTC). Right now LAF is IFR, wind calm; BLI is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 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
- 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 150 to 399 nm out.
- 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 489 to 1217 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). Near the route, 808 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 828 to 898 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 908 to 1387 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1028 to 1327 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 1187 to 1526 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 LAF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 3 nm north, 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- 23 nm north (010°) of RBS
- Time
- 07:05 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ABR, PIR, DIK, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, GEG, SEA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 180° at 8 kt | −4 kt | 3 °C | 124 kt | 12 h 47 min | 1:52 pm PDT (20:52 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 190° at 8 kt | −2 kt | 8 °C | 122 kt | 13 h | 2:05 pm PDT (21:05 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 9 kt | −1 kt | 6 °C | 121 kt | 13 h 06 min | 2:11 pm PDT (21:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 12 kt | +1 kt | 2 °C | 119 kt | 13 h 20 min | 2:25 pm PDT (21:25 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | +4 kt | -1 °C | 116 kt | 13 h 40 min | 2:45 pm PDT (21:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +6 kt | -5 °C | 114 kt | 13 h 55 min | 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | +9 kt | -9 °C | 111 kt | 14 h 17 min | 3:22 pm PDT (22:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 20 kt | +11 kt | -12 °C | 109 kt | 14 h 33 min | 3:38 pm PDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 24 kt | +13 kt | -23 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 49 min | 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 28 kt | +17 kt | -36 °C | 103 kt | 15 h 24 min | 4:29 pm PDT (23:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 39 kt | +30 kt | -42 °C | 90 kt | 17 h 37 min | 6:42 pm PDT (01:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 48 kt | +40 kt | -47 °C | 80 kt | 19 h 50 min | 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 150 nm out; 38 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° |
| MCW | used from 249 nm out; 56 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° |
| FSD | used from 399 nm out; 60 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° |
| ABR | used from 549 nm out; 45 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° |
| PIR | used from 599 nm out; 47 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° | |
| DIK | used from 698 nm out; 82 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° | |
| MLS | used from 848 nm out; 27 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° | |
| BIL | used from 998 nm out; 80 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° | |
| GTF | used from 1047 nm out; 60 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° | |
| GPI | used from 1197 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| GEG | used from 1347 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 080/16 -2° | 050/17 -7° | 080/9 -10° | 190/33 -21° | 180/31 -32° | L/V -35° | L/V -37° | 270/8 -40° | |
| SEA | used from 1496 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAF Lafayette, IN | departure | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | none | 605 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
| DTG Dwight, IL | 80 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 632 ft | ||||
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 279 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| PQN Pipestone, MN | 469 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,736 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| BKX Brookings, SD | 499 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 1,647 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| HEI Hettinger, ND | 768 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east (080°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 2,705 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MLS Miles City, MT | 898 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 2,634 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LWT Lewistown, MT | 1047 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 4,170 ft | ||||
| GTF Great Falls, MT | 1137 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 1.5 mi | 1,300 ft | 3,680 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SZT Sandpoint, ID | 1347 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 2,131 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| OMK Omak, WA | 1466 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,304 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BLI Bellingham, WA | destination | VFR | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 171 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,170 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BLI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:52 pm PDT (20:52 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BLI
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LAF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6654 28NM W TWISP, WA, Thursday, October 1, 2026 through Thursday, October 15, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 1516 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 15 October · ZSE
Daylight
Sunset at LAF 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 UTC), at BLI 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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: Purdue University Airport, Bellingham International.