Rapid City Regional to Phoenix Sky Harbor International RAP → PHX
762 nautical miles (876 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 216°, about 208° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 28-knot headwind), arriving about 3:11 am MST (10:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 116 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 3W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, 188 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3W VALID UNTIL 0255Z MT WY FROM 10WSW MLS-70E DDY-20N LAR-50E BPI-30NE BIL-10WSW MLS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- SIGMET 1W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 287 to 495 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1W VALID UNTIL 0255Z CO NM WY AZ UT FROM 40NNW CHE-40WNW TBE-60WNW CME-40N SJN-40ESE MTU-40NNW CHE AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340. WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.
- SIGMET 4W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 129 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 4W VALID UNTIL 0255Z AZ FROM 60NE TBC-30S INW-100ESE BZA-70SE EED-50NW TBC-60NE TBC DMSHG AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 21020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: 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 departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 455 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 99 to 692 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 188 to 465 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 257 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 188 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 692 nm along 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
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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, BFF, DEN, GJT, FMN, PRC, PHX). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 11 °C | 92 kt | 8 h 17 min | 3:11 am MST (10:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 32 kt | +32 kt | 8 °C | 88 kt | 8 h 40 min | 3:34 am MST (10:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 36 kt | +36 kt | 3 °C | 84 kt | 9 h 04 min | 3:58 am MST (10:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -1 °C | 80 kt | 9 h 32 min | 4:26 am MST (11:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | +44 kt | -6 °C | 76 kt | 10 h 02 min | 4:56 am MST (11:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 47 kt | +46 kt | -9 °C | 74 kt | 10 h 18 min | 5:12 am MST (12:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 56 kt | +56 kt | -21 °C | 64 kt | 11 h 54 min | 6:48 am MST (13:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 62 kt | +61 kt | -31 °C | 59 kt | 12 h 55 min | 7:49 am MST (14:49 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 65 kt | +60 kt | -37 °C | 60 kt | 12 h 42 min | 7:36 am MST (14:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 61 kt | +54 kt | -46 °C | 66 kt | 11 h 33 min | 6:27 am MST (13:27 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 49 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 120/24 | 180/31 13° | 210/26 7° | 230/25 -7° | 240/41 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 250/56 -41° | 260/57 -45° | |
| DEN | used from 198 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| GJT | used from 297 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| FMN | used from 445 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| PRC | used from 593 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 200/36 6° | 210/46 0° | 220/60 -10° | 220/75 -19° | 220/66 -26° | 230/70 -33° | 230/59 -45° | ||
| PHX | used from 692 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 210/19 | 210/20 14° | 200/20 6° | 210/40 1° | 220/58 -8° | 220/68 -20° | 220/82 -26° | 230/83 -34° | 230/69 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP Rapid City, SD | departure | no report just now | 3,203 ft | ||||
| CUT Custer, SD | 30 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 5,619 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 129 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| LAR Laramie, WY | 198 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 7,283 ft | ||||
| SBS Steamboat Springs, CO | 267 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 6,882 ft | ||||
| EGE Eagle, CO | 317 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,547 ft | ||||
| AJZ Delta, CO | 386 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | no report just now | 5,193 ft | ||||
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 475 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5,917 ft | ||||
| INW Winslow, AZ | 643 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,941 ft | ||||
| PAN Payson, AZ | 702 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5,160 ft | ||||
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | no report just now | 1,134 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,283 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:11 am MST (10:11 UTC)
PHX has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHX is before sunrise there (6:30 am MST (13:30 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.
