Missoula Montana Airport to Chicago/Rockford International MSO → RFD
1,101 nautical miles (1,267 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 096°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:05 am CDT (12:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSO is VFR, wind calm; RFD is VFR, wind calm. 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 774 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 268 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 129 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 218 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 278 to 347 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 357 to 357 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). Near the route, 407 nm along the route.
- 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). Over the route from 883 to 1051 nm out.
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 MSO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CL30 at 4,200 ft, 1 nm southeast, 9:16 pm MDT (03:16 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,200 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. At the departure end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0316/FL042/TP CL30/SK OVC042/WX 2 1/2SM/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSO
- Where
- over MSO
- Time
- 03:16 UTC
- Height
- at 4,200 ft
- Aircraft
- CL30
- Sky
- overcast from 4,200 ft
- Weather
- 2, 1/2SM
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent ils runway 12
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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, FSD, MCW, LSE, DBQ, JOT). 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 | 200° at 12 kt | +1 kt | 9 °C | 119 kt | 9 h 15 min | 9:49 am CDT (14:49 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 13 kt | −2 kt | 11 °C | 122 kt | 9 h 01 min | 9:35 am CDT (14:35 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | −4 kt | 5 °C | 124 kt | 8 h 53 min | 9:27 am CDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −9 kt | 3 °C | 129 kt | 8 h 32 min | 9:06 am CDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 20 min | 8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −15 kt | -5 °C | 135 kt | 8 h 09 min | 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −17 kt | -9 °C | 137 kt | 8 h 02 min | 8:36 am CDT (13:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | −18 kt | -10 °C | 138 kt | 7 h 59 min | 8:33 am CDT (13:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 32 kt | −20 kt | -21 °C | 140 kt | 7 h 52 min | 8:26 am CDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 40 kt | −24 kt | -36 °C | 144 kt | 7 h 39 min | 8:13 am CDT (13:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | −40 kt | -41 °C | 160 kt | 6 h 53 min | 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 58 kt | −49 kt | -47 °C | 169 kt | 6 h 31 min | 7:05 am CDT (12:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPI | used from 0 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 50 nm out; 57 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° | |
| BIL | used from 149 nm out; 72 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° | |
| MLS | used from 298 nm out; 28 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° | |
| DIK | used from 397 nm out; 81 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° | |
| PIR | used from 496 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ABR | used from 645 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| FSD | used from 694 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MCW | used from 843 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| LSE | used from 942 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| DBQ | used from 992 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| JOT | used from 1091 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSO Missoula, MT | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 11:18 pm MDT (05:18 UTC) |
| HLN Helena, MT | 89 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 feet, a few clouds at 2,600 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 4,100 ft | 3,877 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| HWQ Harlowton, MT | 179 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 4,311 ft | ||||
| RPX Roundup, MT | 228 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| MLS Miles City, MT | 337 nm out, 22 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northeast (050°) at 10 knots | 6 mi | 1,200 ft | 2,634 ft | 05:25 UTC |
| MKA Miller, SD | 645 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,569 ft | ||||
| BKX Brookings, SD | 744 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,647 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| SBU Blue Earth, MN | 863 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,107 ft | ||||
| CCY Charles City, IA | 942 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,125 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1032 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,311 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:05 am CDT (12:05 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for MSO, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 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 MSO 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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: Missoula Montana Airport, Chicago/Rockford International.