General Downing - Peoria International to Rapid City Regional PIA → RAP
626 nautical miles (720 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 8:32 am MDT (14:32 UTC). Right now PIA is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 3 knots; RAP is low IFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 10 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 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
- SIGMET C14C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC). Near the route, 596 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120755 MKCC WST 120755 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14C VALID UNTIL 0955Z SD ND FROM 50SE DIK-50ENE DPR-40ENE RAP-50NNW RAP-50SE DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- 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 40 to 387 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 189 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 PIA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 (BRL, DSM, OMA, 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 | 240° at 26 kt | +18 kt | 17 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 08 min | 8:46 am MDT (14:46 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 17 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 01 min | 8:39 am MDT (14:39 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +14 kt | 13 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 54 min | 8:32 am MDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +14 kt | 9 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 54 min | 8:32 am MDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +14 kt | 4 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 54 min | 8:32 am MDT (14:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +15 kt | -1 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 58 min | 8:36 am MDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +15 kt | -5 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 58 min | 8:36 am MDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | +15 kt | -9 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 58 min | 8:36 am MDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 36 kt | +22 kt | -21 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 23 min | 9:01 am MDT (15:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 44 kt | +37 kt | -34 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 33 min | 10:11 am MDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 51 kt | +45 kt | -37 °C | 75 kt | 8 h 21 min | 10:59 am MDT (16:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 55 kt | +51 kt | -47 °C | 69 kt | 9 h 04 min | 11:42 am MDT (17:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRL | used from 0 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DSM | used from 149 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| OMA | used from 248 nm out; 66 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° |
| FSD | used from 298 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| ONL | used from 397 nm out; 39 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° | |
| PIR | used from 447 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 546 nm out; 55 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA Peoria, IL | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
| GBG Galesburg, IL | 40 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 764 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| AWG Washington, IA | 99 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| TNU Newton, IA | 159 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 952 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 189 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| IDG Ida Grove, IA | 278 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,245 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 318 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 407 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 300 ft | 1,477 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 477 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 2,032 ft | 08:16 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 517 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | none | 2,724 ft | 08:15 UTC | |
| PHP Philip, SD | 566 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 600 ft | 2,209 ft | 08:25 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: light rain, fog | from the east-southeast (120°) at 10 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 2:34 am MDT (08:34 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, 8:32 am MDT (14:32 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR
At times between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for RAP
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility ¾ mile, mist, overcast at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
The forecast for PIA, 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 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, 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 PIA 6:23 pm CDT (23:23 UTC), at RAP 6:12 pm MDT (00:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 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: General Downing - Peoria International, Rapid City Regional.