Rapid City Regional to Blue Grass Airport RAP → LEX
907 nautical miles (1,044 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 107°, about 099° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; LEX is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 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
- 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 20 to 90 nm out.
- 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 309 to 459 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). 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 RAP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 32,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 7:29 pm MDT (01:29 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 80 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RAP UA /OV RAP084081/TM 0129/FL320/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through RAP
- Where
- 81 nm east (084°) of RAP
- Time
- 01:29 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 8:15 pm MDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 519 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A21N at 17,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 7:28 pm MDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 808 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 45 nm south (183°) of IND
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- clear
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- clear since departing KIND southbound
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 19 nm southwest, 7:09 pm MDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 868 nm along the route, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 7:06 pm MDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
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 10 forecast points nearest it (RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND, LOU). 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 | 240° at 23 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 6 h 49 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −12 kt | 18 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 52 min | 6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −13 kt | 14 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 49 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 10 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 49 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 14 kt | −12 kt | 6 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 52 min | 6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 2 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 49 min | 5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −16 kt | -3 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 40 min | 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | −18 kt | -7 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 34 min | 5:43 am EDT (09:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -8 °C | 139 kt | 6 h 32 min | 5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -20 °C | 146 kt | 6 h 13 min | 5:22 am EDT (09:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 35 kt | −33 kt | -34 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 56 min | 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 48 kt | −48 kt | -41 °C | 168 kt | 5 h 24 min | 4:33 am EDT (08:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 51 kt | −51 kt | -49 °C | 171 kt | 5 h 18 min | 4:27 am EDT (08:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° | |
| PIR | used from 50 nm out; 65 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° | |
| ONL | used from 150 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 249 nm out; 64 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° |
| OMA | used from 299 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| DSM | used from 399 nm out; 17 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 499 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| SPI | used from 598 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| IND | used from 748 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| LOU | used from 798 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP Rapid City, SD | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 1.75 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 9:03 pm MDT (03:03 UTC) |
| PHP Philip, SD | 60 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 1,300 ft | 2,209 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 150 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north (350°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 2,032 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 219 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,477 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 309 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 439 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 957 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| OXV Knoxville, IA | 469 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 23,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 928 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| FSW Fort Madison, IA | 558 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 721 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 678 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 681 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 798 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 845 ft | 03:02 UTC |
| LOU Louisville, KY | 858 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 545 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 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 LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies IFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RAP, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 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
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 RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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: Rapid City Regional, Blue Grass Airport.