Portland International to Billings Logan International PDX → BIL
589 nautical miles (677 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 068° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 4 h at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:28 am MDT (07:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDX is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 4 knots; BIL is IFR, wind from the north (010°) 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: 706 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 first 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the route from 60 to 529 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 409 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 469 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 220 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 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 PDX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- EPIC at 31,000 ft, 49 nm northwest, 6:38 pm PDT (01:38 UTC): moderate turbulence from 30,000 ft to 31,000 ft, remarks: zse. At the departure end, 49 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AST UA /OV AST070020/TM 0138/FL310/TP EPIC/TB MOD 310-300/RM ZSE
- Report
- a routine report filed through AST
- Where
- 20 nm east (070°) of AST
- Time
- 01:38 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- EPIC
- Turbulence
- moderate from 31,000 ft to 30,000 ft
- Remarks
- zse
- B739 at 10,000 ft, 30 nm west, 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC): moderate rime icing from 10,000 ft to 12,000 ft, -12 °C. At the departure end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PDX UA /OV 30W PDX/TM 0119/FL100/TP B739/TA M12/IC MOD RIME 120-100
- Report
- a routine report filed through PDX
- Where
- 30W pdx
- Time
- 01:19 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Temperature
- −12 °C
- Icing
- moderate rime from 12,000 ft to 10,000 ft
- C337 at 12,000 ft, 30 nm north, 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC): light rime icing, -12 °C, remarks: zse. 90 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
YKM UA /OV YKM155020/TM 0118/FL120/TP C337/TA M12/IC LGT RIME/RM ZSE
- Report
- a routine report filed through YKM
- Where
- 20 nm southeast (155°) of YKM
- Time
- 01:18 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C337
- Temperature
- −12 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- zse
- PC12 at 6,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 5:56 pm PDT (00:56 UTC): overcast above 6,000 ft. 170 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALW UA /OV ALW200015/TM 0056/FL060/TP PC12/SK OVC060
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALW
- Where
- 15 nm south (200°) of ALW
- Time
- 00:56 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- overcast from 6,000 ft
- E75L descending, 7 nm south, 6:04 pm PDT (01:04 UTC): remarks: had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground. 479 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0104/FLDURD/TP E75L/RM HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AT 400-500FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 01:04 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground
- A306 at 4,700 ft, 4 nm west, 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIL
- Where
- 1 nm west (280°) of BIL
- Time
- 00:51 UTC
- Height
- at 4,700 ft
- Aircraft
- A306
- Sky
- base 4,700 ft
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (PDX, YKM, LWS, DLN, BIL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 070° at 9 kt | +9 kt | 111 kt | 5 h 18 min | 2:46 am MDT (08:46 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 070° at 11 kt | +11 kt | 109 kt | 5 h 24 min | 2:52 am MDT (08:52 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 050° at 9 kt | +8 kt | -4 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 16 min | 2:44 am MDT (08:44 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 030° at 7 kt | +5 kt | -6 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 07 min | 2:35 am MDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 1 kt | 0 | -7 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 54 min | 2:22 am MDT (08:22 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 5 kt | −2 kt | -10 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 50 min | 2:18 am MDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 200° at 8 kt | −2 kt | -13 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 50 min | 2:18 am MDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 200° at 11 kt | −2 kt | -17 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 50 min | 2:18 am MDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 200° at 12 kt | −2 kt | -18 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 50 min | 2:18 am MDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 190° at 14 kt | −1 kt | -27 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 52 min | 2:20 am MDT (08:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 19 kt | −12 kt | -36 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 28 min | 1:56 am MDT (07:56 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 28 kt | −21 kt | -38 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 11 min | 1:39 am MDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 35 kt | −27 kt | -41 °C | 147 kt | 4 h | 1:28 am MDT (07:28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 030/7 1° | 020/12 -6° | 020/29 -9° | 010/69 -16° | 010/81 -25° | 360/83 -40° | 360/67 -46° | 320/29 -42° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| LWS | used from 150 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| DLN | used from 349 nm out; 62 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° | ||
| BIL | used from 499 nm out; 65 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX Portland, OR | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 30 ft | 7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC) |
| CZK Cascade Locks, OR | 30 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | no report just now | 151 ft | ||||
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 60 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 246 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| PDT Pendleton, OR | 160 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 1,494 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| ALW Walla Walla, WA | 180 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,194 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GIC Grangeville, ID | 269 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,300 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 3,313 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 359 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 3,635 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BTM Butte, MT | 419 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 3,200 ft | 5,550 ft | 03:23 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 479 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet Weather: light snow, mist | calm | 1 mi | 800 ft | 4,473 ft | 03:17 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north (010°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 1,000 ft | 3,662 ft | 9:23 pm MDT (03:23 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,550 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:28 am MDT (07:28 UTC)
Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, freezing fog, a broken layer at 500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BIL
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, freezing fog, a broken layer at 500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet and more above
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
The forecast for PDX, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the east at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 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 PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC), at BIL 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BIL is before sunrise there (7:26 am MDT (13:26 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: Portland International, Billings Logan International.