Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Billings Logan International MEM → BIL
1,062 nautical miles (1,222 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 313°, about 314° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC). Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 11 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 199 to 695 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 427 nm of the route.
- 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 814 to 913 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 60 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 MEM.
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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (MEM, SGF, MKC, SLN, GRI, ONL, BFF, RAP, MLS, BIL). 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 | 250° at 27 kt | +13 kt | 16 °C | 107 kt | 9 h 56 min | 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +13 kt | 16 °C | 107 kt | 9 h 56 min | 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +11 kt | 12 °C | 109 kt | 9 h 45 min | 12:49 pm MDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +9 kt | 8 °C | 111 kt | 9 h 34 min | 12:38 pm MDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +7 kt | 4 °C | 113 kt | 9 h 24 min | 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 9 h 24 min | 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +8 kt | -5 °C | 112 kt | 9 h 29 min | 12:33 pm MDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | +8 kt | -9 °C | 112 kt | 9 h 29 min | 12:33 pm MDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 35 kt | +7 kt | -21 °C | 113 kt | 9 h 24 min | 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 49 kt | +29 kt | -31 °C | 91 kt | 11 h 40 min | 2:44 pm MDT (20:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 51 kt | +33 kt | -37 °C | 87 kt | 12 h 12 min | 3:16 pm MDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 51 kt | +34 kt | -47 °C | 86 kt | 12 h 21 min | 3:25 pm MDT (21:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| SGF | used from 99 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| MKC | used from 298 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SLN | used from 397 nm out; 70 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 447 nm out; 60 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 596 nm out; 78 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° | |
| BFF | used from 695 nm out; 90 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° | |
| RAP | used from 745 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| MLS | used from 894 nm out; 114 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 993 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM Memphis, TN | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC) |
| JBR Jonesboro, AR | 60 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 262 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| SGF Springfield, MO | 208 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| OJC Olathe, KS | 318 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,096 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| FOE Topeka, KS | 357 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 526 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| BBW Broken Bow, NE | 596 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,546 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 735 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 1.75 mi | 300 ft | 3,562 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| IEN Pine Ridge, SD | 755 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,332 ft | ||||
| GCC Gillette, WY | 903 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 4,365 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 973 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 4,021 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north (350°) at 11 knots | 4 mi | 1,800 ft | 3,662 ft | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,365 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BIL
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain snow ice pellets, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain snow ice pellets, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
The forecast for MEM, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC), at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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: Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport, Billings Logan International.