Rapid City Regional to Portland International RAP → PDX
835 nautical miles (961 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 283°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:13 am PDT (12:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots; PDX is VFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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 8C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 40 to 40 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8C VALID UNTIL 0655Z NE SD WY FROM 50WNW RAP-20SSW RAP-60NW BFF-40ENE DDY-50WNW RAP DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- 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 first 577 nm of the route.
- 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 20 to 199 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 229 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 249 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 119 to 487 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 169 to 676 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 318 to 736 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 388 to 577 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 179 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 RAP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 , 41 nm north, 11:31 pm MDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. 358 nm along the route, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 05:31 UTC
- Height
- at BURD
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
- GLF5 descending, 41 nm north, 9:46 pm MDT (03:46 UTC): remarks: broke out 100-150FT above ground. 358 nm along the route, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0346/FLDURD/TP GLF5/RM BROKE OUT 100-150FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 03:46 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Remarks
- broke out 100-150FT above ground
- E75L at 1,500 ft, 40 nm north, 10:49 pm MDT (04:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final. 686 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSC UA /OV PSC120003/TM 0449/FL015/TP E75L/RM LLWS LOSS OF 8 KTS ON FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSC
- Where
- 3 nm southeast (120°) of PSC
- Time
- 04:49 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final
- E75L descending, 9 nm northeast, 10:35 pm MDT (04:35 UTC): light turbulence from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft, light rime icing from 8,000 ft to 12,000 ft, -10 °C. 686 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
GEG UA /OV PDT/TM 0435/FLDURD/TP E75L/TA M10/TB LT TURB 140-110/IC LT RIME 120-080
- Report
- a routine report filed through GEG
- Where
- over PDT
- Time
- 04:35 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Temperature
- −10 °C
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from 14,000 ft to 11,000 ft
- Icing
- lt rime from 12,000 ft to 8,000 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 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 (RAP, MLS, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, PDX). 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 | 110° at 9 kt | −10 kt | 9 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 25 min | 5:13 am PDT (12:13 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 100° at 8 kt | −9 kt | 1 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 28 min | 5:16 am PDT (12:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 110° at 4 kt | −5 kt | -2 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 41 min | 5:29 am PDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 200° at 7 kt | +1 kt | -3 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 01 min | 5:49 am PDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | +5 kt | -5 °C | 115 kt | 7 h 16 min | 6:04 am PDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | +5 kt | -9 °C | 115 kt | 7 h 16 min | 6:04 am PDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | +6 kt | -13 °C | 114 kt | 7 h 19 min | 6:07 am PDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 20 kt | +6 kt | -16 °C | 114 kt | 7 h 19 min | 6:07 am PDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 200° at 23 kt | +5 kt | -26 °C | 115 kt | 7 h 16 min | 6:04 am PDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 29 kt | +14 kt | -35 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 53 min | 6:41 am PDT (13:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 40 kt | +26 kt | -38 °C | 94 kt | 8 h 53 min | 7:41 am PDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 45 kt | +32 kt | -42 °C | 88 kt | 9 h 29 min | 8:17 am PDT (15:17 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° | |
| MLS | used from 99 nm out; 117 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| BIL | used from 149 nm out; 95 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° | |
| DLN | used from 298 nm out; 89 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° | ||
| LWS | used from 497 nm out; 97 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° |
| YKM | used from 696 nm out; 66 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° |
| PDX | used from 795 nm out; 20 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° |
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: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC) |
| SPF Spearfish, SD | 40 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-southeast (110°) at 12 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 3,933 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GCC Gillette, WY | 109 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 4,365 ft | 05:08 UTC |
| POY Powell, WY | 249 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: light snow | from the northwest (320°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25 | 5 mi | 300 ft | 5,096 ft | 05:30 UTC |
| RED Red Lodge, MT | 268 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,762 ft | ||||
| DLN Dillon, MT | 408 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 knots | 2 mi | 400 ft | 5,244 ft | 05:40 UTC |
| SMN Salmon, ID | 467 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,700 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (350°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 4,044 ft | 05:25 UTC |
| JSY Joseph, OR | 607 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,126 ft | 14:30 UTC |
| PDT Pendleton, OR | 676 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 1,494 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 776 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 246 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| PDX Portland, OR | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 30 ft | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,762 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PDX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:13 am PDT (12:13 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PDX
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RAP, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, a broken layer at 1,000 feet (thunderheads)
- 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, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer 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 RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PDX is before sunrise there (7:22 am PDT (14:22 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, Portland International.