Lubbock Preston Smith International to Joe Foss Field LBB → FSD
641 nautical miles (738 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 020°, about 014° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 4 h at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC). Right now LBB is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 9 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 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 2W: 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 118 to 602 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). 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 LBB.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent BE20 at 500 ft, 32 nm west, 4:34 am CDT (09:34 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl. 207 nm along the route, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBL UUA /OV LBL/TM 0934/FL005/TP BE20/RM LLWS 500FT +/-10KT ZKC FD DL
- Report
- an urgent report filed through LBL
- Where
- over LBL
- Time
- 09:34 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (LBB, AMA, GAG, GCK, SLN, GRI, ONL, FSD). 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 | 230° at 34 kt | −29 kt | 22 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 18 min | 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −27 kt | 18 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 22 min | 10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −25 kt | 13 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 25 min | 10:09 am CDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −25 kt | 8 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 25 min | 10:09 am CDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −26 kt | 3 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 23 min | 10:07 am CDT (15:07 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −28 kt | -2 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 20 min | 10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −29 kt | -6 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 18 min | 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 34 kt | −29 kt | -7 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 18 min | 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | −37 kt | -20 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 05 min | 9:49 am CDT (14:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 61 kt | −40 kt | -30 °C | 160 kt | 4 h | 9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 61 kt | −30 kt | -36 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 16 min | 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 59 kt | −27 kt | -48 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 22 min | 10:06 am CDT (15:06 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; 31 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° | |
| GAG | used from 148 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 247 nm out; 42 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° | |
| SLN | used from 345 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| GRI | used from 394 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 542 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| FSD | used from 592 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
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 | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
| PVW Plainview, TX | 30 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,374 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| PPA Pampa, TX | 128 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,245 ft | 10:10 UTC |
| PYX Perryton, TX | 178 nm out, 10 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,918 ft | ||||
| MEJ Meade, KS | 227 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,527 ft | ||||
| DDC Dodge City, KS | 266 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 2,595 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| HYS Hays, KS | 335 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,999 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| HSI Hastings, NE | 444 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 1,961 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 473 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 513 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,806 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 592 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,374 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC)
Wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet
The forecast for LBB, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 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 FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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, Joe Foss Field.