Rapid City Regional to Southwest Wyoming Regional RAP → RKS
303 nautical miles (348 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 243°, about 235° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 10:16 pm MDT (04:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots; RKS is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24. 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 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). Over the route from 88 to 225 nm out.
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.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 185 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 156 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 last 146 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). 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
- urgent CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 11 nm north, 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear dept RY03 gain/loss unknown. 166 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CPR UUA /OV CPR035002/TM 0104/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB CONT MOD TURB/RM LLWS DEPT RY03 GAIN/LOSS UNKN
- Report
- an urgent report filed through CPR
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (035°) of CPR
- Time
- 01:04 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate turbulence
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear dept RY03 gain/loss unknown
- BE9L at 21,000 ft, 39 nm southeast, 5:22 pm MDT (23:22 UTC): light chop turbulence above 21,000 ft, moderate icing above 21,000 ft, -21 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 137 nm along the route, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DGW UA /OV IIP200020/TM 2322/FL210/TP BE9L/SK BASE 200/TA M21/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 210/IC MOD MIX 210/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DGW
- Where
- 20 nm south (200°) of IIP
- Time
- 23:22 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Sky
- base 20,000 ft
- Temperature
- −21 °C
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop at 21,000 ft
- Icing
- moderate mix at 21,000 ft
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- CRJ2 at 9,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC): light chop turbulence, vmc, remarks: occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft. 176 nm along the route, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CPR UA /OV CPR215015/TM 0035/FL090/TP CRJ2/WX VMC/TB LGT CHOP/RM OCNL MOD TURB AT 150
- Report
- a routine report filed through CPR
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (215°) of CPR
- Time
- 00:35 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Weather
- visual conditions
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft
- UAL2395 at 37,000 ft, 3 nm east, 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC): no turbulence, wind 240° at 70 knots. At the destination end, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2395 4135N 10900W 0058 F370 240/070KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A320 at 33,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 4:24 pm MDT (22:24 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RKS UA /OV OCS306029/TM 2224/FL330/TP A320/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through RKS
- Where
- 29 nm northwest (306°) of OCS
- Time
- 22:24 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate zlc
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 4 forecast points nearest it (RAP, BFF, LND, RKS). 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 | 180° at 30 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 2 h 53 min | 10:16 pm MDT (04:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 190° at 35 kt | +24 kt | 8 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 09 min | 10:32 pm MDT (04:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 41 kt | +33 kt | 3 °C | 87 kt | 3 h 29 min | 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 42 kt | +36 kt | -1 °C | 84 kt | 3 h 36 min | 10:59 pm MDT (04:59 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 43 kt | +39 kt | -6 °C | 81 kt | 3 h 44 min | 11:07 pm MDT (05:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 45 kt | +41 kt | -9 °C | 79 kt | 3 h 50 min | 11:13 pm MDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 44 kt | +41 kt | -21 °C | 79 kt | 3 h 50 min | 11:13 pm MDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 44 kt | +41 kt | -35 °C | 79 kt | 3 h 50 min | 11:13 pm MDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 55 kt | +55 kt | -40 °C | 65 kt | 4 h 40 min | 12:03 am MDT (06:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 60 kt | +60 kt | -46 °C | 60 kt | 5 h 03 min | 12:26 am MDT (06:26 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; 24 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 98 nm out; 113 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° | |
| LND | used from 146 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 180/33 10° | 190/50 3° | 210/59 -9° | 200/50 -21° | 190/41 -34° | 230/55 -39° | 240/65 -47° | ||
| RKS | used from 244 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 190/43 | 210/65 3° | 210/57 -9° | 210/56 -21° | 210/47 -33° | 230/63 -37° | 240/77 -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 | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 3,203 ft | 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC) |
| CUT Custer, SD | 29 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (070°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,619 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 49 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,177 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| DGW Douglas, WY | 127 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,932 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 166 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 5,344 ft | 01:08 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 6,764 ft | 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,764 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RKS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:16 pm MDT (04:16 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RKS
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
The forecast for RAP, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, 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 RKS 6:40 pm MDT (00:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm MDT (01:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RKS is after sunset there (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: Rapid City Regional, Southwest Wyoming Regional.