Lubbock Preston Smith International to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field LBB → BFF
500 nautical miles (575 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 351°, about 345° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:29 am MDT (17:29 UTC). Right now LBB is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 8 knots; BFF is low IFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 284 to 490 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 last 10 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 LBB.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 40,000 ft, 46 nm east, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW55. At the departure end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBB UA /OV LBB070050/TM 1338/FL400/TP E145/TB NEG/RM ZFW55
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBB
- Where
- 50 nm east (070°) of LBB
- Time
- 13:38 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW55
- BE20 at 8,000 ft, 37 nm east, 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: durd-zdvwc 31. At the destination end, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
AIA UA /OV KAIA/TM 1315/FL080/TP BE20/SK TOP 045 BASE 002/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD-ZDVWC- 31
- Report
- a routine report filed through AIA
- Where
- over KAIA
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- top 4,500 ft base 200 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- durd-zdvwc 31
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 7 forecast points nearest it (LBB, AMA, GCK, PUB, GLD, DEN, BFF). 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 | 240° at 31 kt | −8 kt | 22 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 54 min | 11:58 am MDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | −8 kt | 21 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 54 min | 11:58 am MDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 30 kt | −6 kt | 13 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 58 min | 12:02 pm MDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −9 kt | 10 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 53 min | 11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | −12 kt | 6 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 47 min | 11:51 am MDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −15 kt | 1 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 42 min | 11:46 am MDT (17:46 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | −19 kt | -4 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 36 min | 11:40 am MDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 39 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 33 min | 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 49 kt | −26 kt | -19 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 25 min | 11:29 am MDT (17:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 67 kt | −19 kt | -29 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 36 min | 11:40 am MDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 68 kt | −9 kt | -36 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 53 min | 11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 64 kt | −6 kt | -48 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 58 min | 12:02 pm MDT (18:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBB | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/25 21° | 230/20 15° | 220/20 7° | 230/36 -6° | 240/50 -15° | 240/59 -28° | 260/52 -37° | 260/45 -50° | |
| AMA | used from 49 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 196 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| PUB | used from 245 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| GLD | used from 294 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| DEN | used from 392 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| BFF | used from 441 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBB Lubbock, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
| PVW Plainview, TX | 29 nm out, 10 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,374 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 88 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 3,606 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| DUX Dumas, TX | 127 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,706 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| LAA Lamar, CO | 265 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,705 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 392 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| STK Sterling, CO | 422 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,037 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| IBM Kimball, NE | 461 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,925 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,967 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,925 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:29 am MDT (17:29 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFF
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1½ miles, mist, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
The forecast for LBB, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 LBB 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 UTC), at BFF 6:16 pm MDT (00:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 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: Lubbock Preston Smith International, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.