Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field to Boeing Fld/King County International MKC → BFI
1,302 nautical miles (1,499 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 302°, about 301° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 2:11 pm PDT (21:11 UTC). Right now MKC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21; BFI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 3 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 first 368 nm of the route.
- 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 318 to 1034 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). Over the route from 467 to 606 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Near the route, 517 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 567 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 616 to 815 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 626 to 1094 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 825 to 1153 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 388 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 MKC.
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 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 11 forecast points nearest it (MKC, GRI, ONL, BFF, RAP, LND, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, 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 | 260° at 19 kt | +13 kt | 21 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 10 min | 3:13 pm PDT (22:13 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 11 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 10 min | 3:13 pm PDT (22:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +10 kt | 4 °C | 110 kt | 11 h 50 min | 2:53 pm PDT (21:53 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | +8 kt | 2 °C | 112 kt | 11 h 38 min | 2:41 pm PDT (21:41 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +7 kt | -1 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 31 min | 2:34 pm PDT (21:34 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +6 kt | -6 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 25 min | 2:28 pm PDT (21:28 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | +4 kt | -10 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 13 min | 2:16 pm PDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 15 kt | +3 kt | -13 °C | 117 kt | 11 h 08 min | 2:11 pm PDT (21:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 28 kt | +7 kt | -25 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 31 min | 2:34 pm PDT (21:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 36 kt | +20 kt | -33 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 01 min | 4:04 pm PDT (23:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 41 kt | +23 kt | -38 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 25 min | 4:28 pm PDT (23:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 44 kt | +25 kt | -45 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 42 min | 4:45 pm PDT (23:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| GRI | used from 99 nm out; 80 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 298 nm out; 99 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 348 nm out; 86 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 497 nm out; 87 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° | |
| LND | used from 597 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| BIL | used from 646 nm out; 95 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° | |
| DLN | used from 795 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| LWS | used from 994 nm out; 58 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| YKM | used from 1143 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| SEA | used from 1243 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC Kansas City, MO | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| FLV Fort Leavenworth, KS | 20 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 771 ft | ||||
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 199 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| BBW Broken Bow, NE | 268 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,546 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| CDR Chadron, NE | 447 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 7 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 3,297 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| BYG Buffalo, WY | 626 nm out, 25 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 18 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 4,970 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| COD Cody, WY | 726 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet | from the north (360°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 5,102 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| RVF Twin Bridges, MT | 875 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 4,788 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 954 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,635 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| LWS Lewiston, ID | 1074 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,442 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 1183 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,188 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| BFI Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,102 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:11 pm PDT (21:11 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFI
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MKC, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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 MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at BFI 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 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: Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field, Boeing Fld/King County International.