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 7 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:13 pm CDT (21:13 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 knots; SPI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 238 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 10 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 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 40 to 744 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 248 to 298 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
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 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 | 250° at 19 kt | −14 kt | 12 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 31 min | 5:36 pm CDT (22:36 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −13 kt | 12 °C | 133 kt | 8 h 35 min | 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −12 kt | 6 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 39 min | 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −12 kt | 3 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 39 min | 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 39 min | 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −12 kt | -5 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 39 min | 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −12 kt | -10 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 39 min | 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 25 kt | −12 kt | -10 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 39 min | 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 37 kt | −17 kt | -23 °C | 137 kt | 8 h 20 min | 5:25 pm CDT (22:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 44 kt | −28 kt | -34 °C | 148 kt | 7 h 43 min | 4:48 pm CDT (21:48 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | −34 kt | -38 °C | 154 kt | 7 h 25 min | 4:30 pm CDT (21:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 54 kt | −40 kt | -46 °C | 160 kt | 7 h 08 min | 4:13 pm CDT (21:13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPI | used from 0 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 50 nm out; 65 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| BIL | used from 149 nm out; 66 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° | |
| MLS | used from 298 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 397 nm out; 78 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° | |
| PIR | used from 546 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 645 nm out; 57 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° | |
| FSD | used from 744 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| OMA | used from 794 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 893 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| BRL | used from 992 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| SPI | used from 1091 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
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: overcast at 6,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| HLN Helena, MT | 89 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,300 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 3,877 ft | 13:53 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 | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 3,662 ft | 13:53 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: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 2,209 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 635 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 2,032 ft | 14:02 UTC |
| VMR Vermillion, SD | 774 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,146 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 804 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 933 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 13:54 UTC |
| FSW Fort Madison, IA | 1052 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 721 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 8:52 am CDT (13:52 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, 4:13 pm CDT (21:13 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SPI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
The forecast for MSO, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 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 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
- 6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
Daylight
Sunset at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC), at SPI 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 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, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.