Eppley Airfield to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field OMA → BFF
347 nautical miles (400 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 278°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 1:17 pm MDT (19:17 UTC). Right now OMA is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 13 knots; BFF is low IFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 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 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 119 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 last 218 nm of 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 last 50 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 OMA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A21N at 35,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC): remarks: mountain wave. 40 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LNK UA /OV SCB/TM 1533/FL350/TP A21N/RM MTN WAVE
- Report
- a routine report filed through LNK
- Where
- over SCB
- Time
- 15:33 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Remarks
- mountain wave
- B738 at 38,000 ft, 40 nm south, 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-35. 218 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1309/FL380/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC-35
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBF
- Where
- over LBF
- Time
- 13:09 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-35
- BE20 at 8,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: durd-zdvwc 31. 318 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AIA UA /OV KAIA/TM 1315/FL080/TP BE20/SK TOP 045 BASE 002/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD-ZDVWC- 31
- Report
- a routine report filed through AIA
- Where
- over KAIA
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- top 4,500 ft base 200 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- durd-zdvwc 31
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF). 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 | 270° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 18 °C | 102 kt | 3 h 24 min | 1:17 pm MDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 17 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 28 min | 1:21 pm MDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | +23 kt | 14 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 35 min | 1:28 pm MDT (19:28 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | +24 kt | 9 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 37 min | 1:30 pm MDT (19:30 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +25 kt | 5 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 39 min | 1:32 pm MDT (19:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +26 kt | -1 °C | 94 kt | 3 h 41 min | 1:34 pm MDT (19:34 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | +27 kt | -6 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 44 min | 1:37 pm MDT (19:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 39 kt | +28 kt | -10 °C | 92 kt | 3 h 46 min | 1:39 pm MDT (19:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 53 kt | +44 kt | -22 °C | 76 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:27 pm MDT (20:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 71 kt | +65 kt | -30 °C | 55 kt | 6 h 19 min | 4:12 pm MDT (22:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 81 kt | +75 kt | -36 °C | 45 kt | 7 h 43 min | 5:36 pm MDT (23:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 71 kt | +65 kt | -46 °C | 55 kt | 6 h 19 min | 4:12 pm MDT (22:12 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/23 | 240/34 20° | 230/40 14° | 220/43 7° | 240/38 -8° | 250/47 -21° | 270/70 -29° | 270/79 -36° | 270/68 -48° |
| GRI | used from 50 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 270/26 19° | 230/33 13° | 230/39 8° | 230/43 -9° | 240/55 -21° | 250/76 -28° | 260/84 -36° | 260/68 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 149 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 270/16 17° | 250/25 13° | 230/34 7° | 230/46 -9° | 240/57 -22° | 250/72 -31° | 250/87 -36° | 250/75 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 248 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 310/15 | 280/27 8° | 250/27 2° | 230/30 -12° | 240/52 -22° | 250/66 -32° | 240/78 -37° | 240/76 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMA Omaha, NE | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 9:52 am CDT (14:52 UTC) |
| FET Fremont, NE | 30 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 1,204 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| OLU Columbus, NE | 69 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 1,447 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 99 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,806 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| ODX Ord, NE | 139 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots | 8 mi | 300 ft | 2,070 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| TIF Thedford, NE | 208 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 2,925 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 288 nm out, 25 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| AIA Alliance, NE | 318 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 200 ft | 3,930 ft | 15:23 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 200 ft | 3,967 ft | 9:15 am MDT (15:15 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,967 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:17 pm MDT (19:17 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFF
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1½ miles, mist, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
The forecast for OMA, the departure
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 OMA 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC), at BFF 6:16 pm MDT (00:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 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: Eppley Airfield, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.