Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Great Falls International MEM → GTF
1,214 nautical miles (1,397 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 314°, about 315° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:30 am MDT (17:30 UTC). 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: 853 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
- SIGMET C13C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC). Near the route, 856 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120655 MKCC WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13C VALID UNTIL 0855Z SD FROM 50NW DPR-30ESE DPR-20SE RAP-50WNW RAP-50NW DPR AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 229 to 706 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), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 557 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), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 816 to 975 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 826 to 955 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 895 to 1015 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 935 to 1045 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 20 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
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (MEM, SGF, MKC, SLN, GRI, ONL, RAP, MLS, BIL, GTF). 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 | 210° at 20 kt | −4 kt | 14 °C | 124 kt | 9 h 47 min | 11:30 am MDT (17:30 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −2 kt | 15 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 57 min | 11:40 am MDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | 0 | 12 °C | 120 kt | 10 h 07 min | 11:50 am MDT (17:50 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | 0 | 7 °C | 120 kt | 10 h 07 min | 11:50 am MDT (17:50 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +1 kt | 4 °C | 119 kt | 10 h 12 min | 11:55 am MDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +3 kt | -1 °C | 117 kt | 10 h 23 min | 12:06 pm MDT (18:06 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +5 kt | -5 °C | 115 kt | 10 h 33 min | 12:16 pm MDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 25 kt | +7 kt | -8 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 45 min | 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 31 kt | +8 kt | -20 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 50 min | 12:33 pm MDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | +16 kt | -34 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 40 min | 1:23 pm MDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 52 kt | +31 kt | -39 °C | 89 kt | 13 h 38 min | 3:21 pm MDT (21:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | +35 kt | -48 °C | 85 kt | 14 h 17 min | 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| SGF | used from 99 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| MKC | used from 249 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| SLN | used from 398 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GRI | used from 448 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 597 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 696 nm out; 90 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° | |
| MLS | used from 895 nm out; 96 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 995 nm out; 49 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 1144 nm out; 45 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° |
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 | no report just now | 340 ft | ||||
| CVK Ash Flat, AR | 109 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 717 ft | ||||
| SGF Springfield, MO | 209 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,268 ft | ||||
| IXD Olathe, KS | 328 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,087 ft | ||||
| MYZ Marysville, KS | 428 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,283 ft | ||||
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 527 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,847 ft | ||||
| TIF Thedford, NE | 647 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,925 ft | ||||
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 806 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,203 ft | ||||
| RPX Roundup, MT | 1084 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| LWT Lewistown, MT | 1134 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,170 ft | ||||
| GTF Great Falls, MT | destination | no report just now | 3,680 ft |
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 GTF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:30 am MDT (17:30 UTC)
GTF has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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, Great Falls International.