Seattle Paine Field International to Kansas City International PAE → MCI
1,296 nautical miles (1,492 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 103°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 9 h at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:18 pm CDT (21:18 UTC). Right now PAE is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots; MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 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: 8 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 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 339 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 189 to 509 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 688 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 route from 339 to 1017 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 528 to 688 nm out.
- 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 758 to 868 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Near the route, 808 nm along the route.
- 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 last 279 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 PAE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B763 at 2,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 4:57 am PDT (11:57 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOE UUA /OV 130003/TM 1157/FL020/TP B763/WV LLWS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through FOE
- Where
- wind from 130° at 3 knots
- Time
- 11:57 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Wind
- low-level wind shear
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 (SEA, YKM, GEG, LWS, DLN, BIL, RAP, BFF, ONL, GRI, OMA, MKC). 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 | 260° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 18 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 49 min | 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −10 kt | 6 °C | 130 kt | 9 h 58 min | 5:16 pm CDT (22:16 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −9 kt | 3 °C | 129 kt | 10 h 03 min | 5:21 pm CDT (22:21 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 10 h 12 min | 5:30 pm CDT (22:30 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | −6 kt | -4 °C | 126 kt | 10 h 17 min | 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 14 kt | −4 kt | -8 °C | 124 kt | 10 h 27 min | 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | −3 kt | -13 °C | 123 kt | 10 h 32 min | 5:50 pm CDT (22:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 14 kt | −2 kt | -14 °C | 122 kt | 10 h 37 min | 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 26 kt | −5 kt | -25 °C | 125 kt | 10 h 22 min | 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 32 kt | −18 kt | -33 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 23 min | 4:41 pm CDT (21:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 38 kt | −21 kt | -38 °C | 141 kt | 9 h 11 min | 4:29 pm CDT (21:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 43 kt | −24 kt | -44 °C | 144 kt | 9 h | 4:18 pm CDT (21:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -45° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| GEG | used from 150 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| LWS | used from 199 nm out; 33 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| DLN | used from 349 nm out; 66 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° | ||
| BIL | used from 499 nm out; 77 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° | |
| RAP | used from 698 nm out; 124 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° | |
| BFF | used from 848 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| ONL | used from 947 nm out; 99 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° | |
| GRI | used from 1047 nm out; 31 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° | |
| OMA | used from 1197 nm out; 81 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° |
| MKC | used from 1246 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAE Everett, WA | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 606 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
| EPH Ephrata, WA | 120 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,276 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 130 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,188 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 349 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 3,635 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 479 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 4,473 ft | 12:02 UTC |
| POY Powell, WY | 588 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 16 knots | 1 mi | 300 ft | 5,096 ft | 11:50 UTC |
| BYG Buffalo, WY | 678 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 16 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 4,970 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CDR Chadron, NE | 858 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 800 ft | 3,297 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| TIF Thedford, NE | 987 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 0.75 mi | 300 ft | 2,925 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 1107 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 1276 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MCI Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,096 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MCI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:18 pm CDT (21:18 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MCI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 30, 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 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PAE, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 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 7 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
Daylight
Sunset at PAE 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC), at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 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: Seattle Paine Field International, Kansas City International.