Plan a flight · Sun 9:07 pm MDT (03:07 UTC)

Missoula Montana Airport to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport MSO → SPI

1,141 nautical miles (1,313 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 103°, about 090° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSO is IFR, wind calm; SPI is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 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 605 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the first 169 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 119 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 268 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 238 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 268 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 397 to 417 nm out.
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 814 to 952 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

BCS1 at 3,700 ft, 1 nm southeast, 7:47 pm MDT (01:47 UTC): snow, rain, 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 0147/FL037/TP BCS1/SK 037/WX SN RA/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
01:47 UTC
Height
at 3,700 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Sky
at 3,700 ft
Weather
snow, rain
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
C25B at 4,100 ft, 1 nm southeast, 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,100 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 0036/FL041/TP C25B/SK OVC041/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,100 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
overcast from 4,100 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
E75L descending, 37 nm south, 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 UTC): remarks: had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground. 139 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0104/FLDURD/TP E75L/RM HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AT 400-500FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground
B737 descending, 37 nm south, 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. 139 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
A306 at 4,700 ft, 7 nm southwest, 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 238 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIL
Where
1 nm west (280°) of BIL
Time
00:51 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
A306
Sky
base 4,700 ft
BE20 at 15,000 ft, 40 nm south, 7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC): -5 °C, remarks: clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31. 437 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CUT UA /OV ECS340020/TM 0156/FL150/TP BE20/TA M05/IC T RIME 150-180/RM CLR OUT AT 220 ZDVWC-31
```
Report
a routine report filed through CUT
Where
20 nm north (340°) of ECS
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
T rime from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
Remarks
clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31
B763 at 32,000 ft, 13 nm south, 7:29 pm MDT (01:29 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 575 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RAP UA /OV RAP084081/TM 0129/FL320/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RAP
Where
81 nm east (084°) of RAP
Time
01:29 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc

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, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI). 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 15 kt	+1 kt	11 °C	119 kt	9 h 35 min	7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC)
7,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	−1 kt	12 °C	121 kt	9 h 26 min	7:33 am CDT (12:33 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 17 kt	−3 kt	6 °C	123 kt	9 h 17 min	7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	−5 kt	3 °C	125 kt	9 h 08 min	7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	−7 kt	0 °C	127 kt	8 h 59 min	7:06 am CDT (12:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−10 kt	-5 °C	130 kt	8 h 47 min	6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−13 kt	-9 °C	133 kt	8 h 35 min	6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 26 kt	−13 kt	-10 °C	133 kt	8 h 35 min	6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 31 kt	−16 kt	-21 °C	136 kt	8 h 23 min	6:30 am CDT (11:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 41 kt	−21 kt	-35 °C	141 kt	8 h 06 min	6:13 am CDT (11:13 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 53 kt	−40 kt	-40 °C	160 kt	7 h 08 min	5:15 am CDT (10:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 58 kt	−46 kt	-47 °C	166 kt	6 h 52 min	4:59 am CDT (09:59 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; 95 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; 65 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; 66 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; 65 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°
RAP	used from 397 nm out; 78 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°
PIR	used from 546 nm out; 43 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°
ONL	used from 645 nm out; 57 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°
FSD	used from 744 nm out; 54 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°
OMA	used from 794 nm out; 63 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
DSM	used from 893 nm out; 16 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
BRL	used from 992 nm out; 42 nm from the line	230/24	240/29 15°	290/16 10°	280/15 4°	260/23 -7°	260/32 -19°	260/36 -33°	280/48 -41°	280/59 -52°
SPI	used from 1091 nm out; 25 nm from the line	220/21	250/23 16°	260/27 9°	270/14 6°	270/23 -7°	270/31 -19°	270/28 -33°	290/48 -42°	300/55 -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	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	calm	2.5 mi	1,900 ft	3,205 ft	8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC)
HLN Helena, MT	89 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots	1 mi	900 ft	3,877 ft	02:53 UTC
HWQ Harlowton, MT	179 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	no report just now				4,311 ft
BIL Billings, MT	238 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light rain, light snow	from the north (360°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	3,662 ft	02:53 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD	446 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,190 ft
PHP Philip, SD	556 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist	from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots	6 mi	1,300 ft	2,209 ft	02:55 UTC
ICR Winner, SD	635 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the north (350°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	2,032 ft	02:53 UTC
VMR Vermillion, SD	774 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,146 ft	02:55 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	804 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	02:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	933 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 23,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	23,000 ft	957 ft	02:54 UTC
FSW Fort Madison, IA	1052 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	721 ft	02:55 UTC
SPI Springfield, IL	destination	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	597 ft	9:52 pm CDT (02:52 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 SPI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SPI

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 18,000 feet

The forecast for MSO, the departure

From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 2,500 feet
30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 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 SPI 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SPI 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

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.