Chicago O'Hare International to Bozeman Yellowstone International ORD → BZN
1,028 nautical miles (1,182 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 294° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 9:44 am MDT (15:44 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots; BZN is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 4 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: 2,506 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 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 100 to 279 nm out.
- 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 628 nm of the route.
- 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). Over the route from 718 to 828 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 768 to 778 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 778 to 878 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 798 to 928 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 120 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 ORD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E73L descending, 0 nm northwest, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E73L
- Remarks
- breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
- B737 , 0 nm northwest, 12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 05:31 UTC
- Height
- at BURD
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ABR, PIR, 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 | 210° at 16 kt | +3 kt | 12 °C | 117 kt | 8 h 47 min | 9:44 am MDT (15:44 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | +5 kt | 14 °C | 115 kt | 8 h 56 min | 9:53 am MDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | +6 kt | 11 °C | 114 kt | 9 h 01 min | 9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +10 kt | 6 °C | 110 kt | 9 h 21 min | 10:18 am MDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +14 kt | 3 °C | 106 kt | 9 h 42 min | 10:39 am MDT (16:39 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +16 kt | -1 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 53 min | 10:50 am MDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +18 kt | -6 °C | 102 kt | 10 h 05 min | 11:02 am MDT (17:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 27 kt | +20 kt | -9 °C | 100 kt | 10 h 17 min | 11:14 am MDT (17:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | +23 kt | -21 °C | 97 kt | 10 h 36 min | 11:33 am MDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 38 kt | +26 kt | -35 °C | 94 kt | 10 h 56 min | 11:53 am MDT (17:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 51 kt | +44 kt | -41 °C | 76 kt | 13 h 32 min | 2:29 pm MDT (20:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 58 kt | +53 kt | -48 °C | 67 kt | 15 h 21 min | 4:18 pm MDT (22:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 38 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° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 54 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° |
| MCW | used from 200 nm out; 27 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° |
| FSD | used from 349 nm out; 37 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° |
| ABR | used from 449 nm out; 68 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° |
| PIR | used from 499 nm out; 39 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° | |
| RAP | used from 648 nm out; 59 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° | |
| MLS | used from 748 nm out; 75 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° | |
| BIL | used from 848 nm out; 48 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° | |
| DLN | used from 998 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD Chicago, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 1:51 am CDT (06:51 UTC) |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 50 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 130 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SBU Blue Earth, MN | 289 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,107 ft | ||||
| PQN Pipestone, MN | 389 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,736 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| MDS Madison, SD | 419 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,718 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| PIR Pierre, SD | 559 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,744 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 718 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | 918 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | 1,300 ft | 3,662 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LVM Livingston, MT | 998 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 3,000 ft | 4,659 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 3,700 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | 3,700 ft | 4,473 ft | 12:52 am MDT (06:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,659 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, 9:44 am MDT (15:44 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BZN
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 2 miles, light snow, a broken layer at 200 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,000 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 ORD, the departure
- 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 24, 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
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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 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: Chicago O'Hare International, Bozeman Yellowstone International.