Eppley Airfield to Bozeman Yellowstone International OMA → BZN
715 nautical miles (823 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 297°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC). Right now OMA is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots; BZN is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 3 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: 4 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 169 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 576 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 486 to 635 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 60 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (OMA, GRI, ONL, RAP, MLS, BIL, DLN). 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 | 260° at 24 kt | +18 kt | 17 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 01 min | 12:03 pm MDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | +18 kt | 16 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 01 min | 12:03 pm MDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +17 kt | 12 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 57 min | 11:59 am MDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +15 kt | 5 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 49 min | 11:51 am MDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +13 kt | 2 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 41 min | 11:43 am MDT (17:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +12 kt | -3 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 37 min | 11:39 am MDT (17:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +10 kt | -7 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 30 min | 11:32 am MDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 30 kt | +9 kt | -11 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 26 min | 11:28 am MDT (17:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 41 kt | +8 kt | -23 °C | 112 kt | 6 h 23 min | 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 48 kt | +24 kt | -32 °C | 96 kt | 7 h 27 min | 12:29 pm MDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 52 kt | +27 kt | -37 °C | 93 kt | 7 h 41 min | 12:43 pm MDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | +31 kt | -46 °C | 89 kt | 8 h 02 min | 1:04 pm MDT (19:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMA | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| GRI | used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 99 nm out; 20 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° | |
| RAP | used from 248 nm out; 85 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° | |
| MLS | used from 447 nm out; 117 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° | |
| BIL | used from 496 nm out; 97 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° | |
| DLN | used from 695 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° |
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 | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC) |
| SCB Scribner, NE | 40 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,324 ft | ||||
| OFK Norfolk, NE | 79 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,572 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| RBE Bassett, NE | 179 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,349 ft | ||||
| VTN Valentine, NE | 228 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,595 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 357 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| CUT Custer, SD | 367 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 5,619 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| GCC Gillette, WY | 467 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 6 mi | 700 ft | 4,365 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 526 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 4,021 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RED Red Lodge, MT | 625 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,762 ft | ||||
| LVM Livingston, MT | 685 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 4,659 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 4,473 ft | 4:56 am MDT (10:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,762 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BZN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BZN
- From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
The forecast for OMA, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 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 BZN 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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, Bozeman Yellowstone International.