Chicago O'Hare International to Rapid City Regional ORD → RAP
676 nautical miles (777 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 289° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 11:44 pm MDT (05:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots; RAP is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 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: 1,357 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 ORD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 34,000 ft, 28 nm north, 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORD UA /OV OBK360015/TM 2100/FL340/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORD
- Where
- 15 nm north (360°) of OBK
- Time
- 21:00 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- C17 at 500 ft, 19 nm south, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- 1L arrival
- Time
- 21:15 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- A21N at 34,000 ft, 35 nm south, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 199 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALO UA /OV ALO180020/TM 2201/FL340/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALO
- Where
- 20 nm south (180°) of ALO
- Time
- 22:01 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- A21N at 31,000 ft, 28 nm south, 4:07 pm CDT (21:07 UTC): light turbulence. 238 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IFA UA /OV IFA/TM 2107/FL310/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT/ INTMT MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IFA
- Where
- over IFA
- Time
- 21:07 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- continuous light intermittent moderate
- B739 at 30,000 ft, 46 nm south, 4:38 pm CDT (21:38 UTC): light turbulence. 298 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD220020/TM 2138/FL300/TP B739/TB CONS LGT/ OCNL MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 20 nm southwest (220°) of FOD
- Time
- 21:38 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate
- B738 at 37,000 ft, 6 nm south, 4:25 pm CDT (21:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 467 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FSD UA /OV FSD255065/TM 2125/FL370/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FSD
- Where
- 65 nm west (255°) of FSD
- Time
- 21:25 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
- PC12 at 100 ft, 35 nm north, 5:34 pm CDT (22:34 UTC): no icing. 556 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2234/FL001/TP PC12/SK BASE030-TOP045/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIR
- Where
- over PIR
- Time
- 22:34 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BASE030-TOP045
- Icing
- none
- PA24 at 2,500 ft, 35 nm north, 4:35 pm CDT (21:35 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 556 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2135/FL025/TP PA24/SK BASE027/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIR
- Where
- over PIR
- Time
- 21:35 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- PA24
- Sky
- BASE027
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP). 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 | 220° at 16 kt | +6 kt | 15 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 56 min | 11:44 pm MDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +11 kt | 15 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 12 min | 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +13 kt | 12 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 19 min | 12:07 am MDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 9 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 23 min | 12:11 am MDT (06:11 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +14 kt | 5 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 23 min | 12:11 am MDT (06:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +16 kt | 0 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 30 min | 12:18 am MDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +18 kt | -5 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 38 min | 12:26 am MDT (06:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 22 kt | +20 kt | -9 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 46 min | 12:34 am MDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 28 kt | +27 kt | -20 °C | 93 kt | 7 h 16 min | 1:04 am MDT (07:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 36 kt | +36 kt | -35 °C | 84 kt | 8 h 03 min | 1:51 am MDT (07:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 42 kt | +43 kt | -43 °C | 77 kt | 8 h 47 min | 2:35 am MDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 58 kt | +59 kt | -51 °C | 61 kt | 11 h 05 min | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 36 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -52° |
| MCW | used from 199 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| FSD | used from 348 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| ONL | used from 447 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| PIR | used from 497 nm out; 50 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| RAP | used from 596 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° |
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: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 5:51 pm CDT (22:51 UTC) |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 50 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 22:54 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 129 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 199 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 22:54 UTC |
| MCW Mason City, IA | 248 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,213 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| AXA Algona, IA | 288 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,216 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 397 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 1,430 ft | 22:56 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 457 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,304 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 536 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,032 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| PHP Philip, SD | 616 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 2,209 ft | 22:55 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,900 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 3,203 ft | 5:05 pm MDT (23:05 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:44 pm MDT (05:44 UTC)
Wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for RAP
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
The forecast for ORD, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-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 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC), at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is before sunrise there (7:02 am MDT (13:02 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, Rapid City Regional.