Minot International to Sacramento International MOT → SMF
1,050 nautical miles (1,208 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 238° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:05 am PDT (15:05 UTC). Right now MOT is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 6 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 490 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 740 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 270 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 340 to 740 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 410 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 580 to 770 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 130 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 MOT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E175 at 6,300 ft, 29 nm northwest, 11:20 pm CDT (04:20 UTC): overcast above 6,300 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 31. 610 nm along the route, 29 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV KSUN/TM 0420/FL063/TP E175/SK OVC063-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY31
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- over KSUN
- Time
- 04:20 UTC
- Height
- at 6,300 ft
- Aircraft
- E175
- Sky
- overcast from 6,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 31
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 (MOT, DIK, MLS, BIL, DLN, PIH, BOI, BAM, RNO, SAC). 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 | 110° at 6 kt | −4 kt | 4 °C | 124 kt | 8 h 28 min | 8:05 am PDT (15:05 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 130° at 5 kt | −2 kt | 4 °C | 122 kt | 8 h 36 min | 8:13 am PDT (15:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 7 kt | +6 kt | 1 °C | 114 kt | 9 h 13 min | 8:50 am PDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | +16 kt | -2 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 06 min | 9:43 am PDT (16:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -5 °C | 94 kt | 11 h 10 min | 10:47 am PDT (17:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -8 °C | 90 kt | 11 h 40 min | 11:17 am PDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | +35 kt | -11 °C | 85 kt | 12 h 21 min | 11:58 am PDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | +38 kt | -14 °C | 82 kt | 12 h 48 min | 12:25 pm PDT (19:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 46 kt | +42 kt | -24 °C | 78 kt | 13 h 28 min | 1:05 pm PDT (20:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -33 °C | 71 kt | 14 h 47 min | 2:24 pm PDT (21:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 59 kt | +58 kt | -37 °C | 62 kt | 16 h 56 min | 4:33 pm PDT (23:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | +58 kt | -44 °C | 62 kt | 16 h 56 min | 4:33 pm PDT (23:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/14 5° | 200/20 4° | 230/33 1° | 250/39 -11° | 250/50 -21° | 240/61 -37° | 250/56 -45° | 260/68 -51° | |
| DIK | used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 150 nm out; 44 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 250 nm out; 58 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° | |
| DLN | used from 450 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° | ||
| PIH | used from 500 nm out; 63 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° | |
| BOI | used from 650 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 300/7 2° | 280/5 -4° | 210/16 -9° | 210/60 -20° | 210/75 -29° | 210/63 -32° | 220/64 -32° | 220/54 -39° | |
| BAM | used from 750 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 850 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1000 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT Minot, ND | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,715 ft | 1:17 am CDT (06:17 UTC) |
| GDV Glendive, MT | 160 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | from the northeast (050°) at 13 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 2,458 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| MLS Miles City, MT | 220 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 2,634 ft | 06:12 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 330 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 1,200 ft | 3,662 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 460 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation | calm | 1.75 mi | 400 ft | 6,649 ft | 06:10 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | 530 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 4,743 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 650 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,153 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| WMC Winnemucca, NV | 830 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,307 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| LOL Lovelock, NV | 890 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 3,907 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 970 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,649 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:05 am PDT (15:05 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SMF
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MOT, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MOT 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 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: Minot International, Sacramento International.