Rapid City Regional to Salt Lake City International RAP → SLC
441 nautical miles (507 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 247°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 1:42 am MDT (07:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 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: 4 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 431 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 88 to 421 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 127 to 362 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 235 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 235 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 215 to 323 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). Near the route, 245 nm along 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). Over the last 10 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
- urgent CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear dept runway 03 gain/loss unknown. 157 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest 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 runway 03 gain/loss unknown
- BE20 at 15,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC): -5 °C, remarks: clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31. 49 nm along the route, 32 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CUT UA /OV ECS340020/TM 0156/FL150/TP BE20/TA M05/IC T RIME 150-180/RM CLR OUT AT 220 ZDVWC-31
- Report
- a routine report filed through CUT
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of ECS
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Icing
- T rime from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31
- CRJ2 at 9,000 ft, 6 nm south, 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, 6 nm south 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, 22 nm southeast, 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC): no turbulence, wind 240° at 70 knots. 304 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast 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
- B737 at 16,000 ft, 19 nm west, 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 8 °C, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 19 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
SLC UA /OV TCH230020/TM 0045/FL160/TP B737/TA 8/TB NEG/IC LT RIME 130-170/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SLC
- Where
- 20 nm southwest (230°) of TCH
- Time
- 00:45 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- lt rime from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
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 5 forecast points nearest it (RAP, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC). 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 31 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 33 min | 1:42 am MDT (07:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 33 kt | +28 kt | 6 °C | 92 kt | 4 h 48 min | 1:57 am MDT (07:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +31 kt | 1 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:06 am MDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +31 kt | -3 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:06 am MDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +31 kt | -7 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:06 am MDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 34 kt | +31 kt | -11 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:06 am MDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 41 kt | +38 kt | -23 °C | 82 kt | 5 h 23 min | 2:32 am MDT (08:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 48 kt | +43 kt | -30 °C | 77 kt | 5 h 44 min | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 58 kt | +56 kt | -36 °C | 64 kt | 6 h 53 min | 4:02 am MDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 61 kt | +60 kt | -45 °C | 60 kt | 7 h 21 min | 4:30 am MDT (10:30 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; 24 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° | |
| BFF | used from 98 nm out; 120 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| LND | used from 147 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 245 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 392 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° |
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) |
| CUT Custer, SD | 29 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | none | 5,619 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 49 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,177 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 167 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 5,344 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 304 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 19 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 6,764 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| FBR Fort Bridger, WY | 362 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 19 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 7,038 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 8:54 pm MDT (02:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,038 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:42 am MDT (07:42 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
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 SLC 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SLC is before sunrise there (7:35 am MDT (13:35 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, Salt Lake City International.