Rapid City Regional to Jacqueline Cochran Regional RAP → TRM
874 nautical miles (1,005 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 229°, about 221° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 3:07 am PDT (10:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots; TRM is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 844 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 129 to 774 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 179 to 774 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 199 to 516 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 298 to 347 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 397 to 824 nm out.
- 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 route from 526 to 685 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, 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
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, RKS, GJT, BCE, LAS, BLH). 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 28 kt | +25 kt | 9 °C | 95 kt | 9 h 12 min | 3:07 am PDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 35 kt | +34 kt | 4 °C | 86 kt | 10 h 10 min | 4:05 am PDT (11:05 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 38 kt | +38 kt | 1 °C | 82 kt | 10 h 40 min | 4:35 am PDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -3 °C | 80 kt | 10 h 56 min | 4:51 am PDT (11:51 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 43 kt | +42 kt | -7 °C | 78 kt | 11 h 12 min | 5:07 am PDT (12:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -10 °C | 77 kt | 11 h 21 min | 5:16 am PDT (12:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 46 kt | +46 kt | -21 °C | 74 kt | 11 h 49 min | 5:44 am PDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 53 kt | +53 kt | -30 °C | 67 kt | 13 h 03 min | 6:58 am PDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 58 kt | +58 kt | -36 °C | 62 kt | 14 h 06 min | 8:01 am PDT (15:01 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 59 kt | +58 kt | -45 °C | 62 kt | 14 h 06 min | 8:01 am PDT (15:01 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 99 nm out; 84 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° | |
| RKS | used from 199 nm out; 102 nm from the line | 190/43 | 210/65 3° | 210/57 -9° | 210/56 -21° | 210/47 -33° | 230/63 -37° | 240/77 -46° | ||
| GJT | used from 298 nm out; 75 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 447 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| LAS | used from 645 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 200/25 11° | 230/22 5° | 240/25 -1° | 220/37 -12° | 220/44 -21° | 210/52 -27° | 210/60 -34° | 220/58 -44° | |
| BLH | used from 794 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/22 | 210/24 11° | 230/23 5° | 230/26 0° | 220/38 -10° | 230/52 -19° | 220/58 -28° | 220/69 -34° | 220/59 -45° |
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 | 30 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 5,619 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| DGW Douglas, WY | 129 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,932 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 228 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,014 ft | 00:30 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 268 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 6,548 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| HVE Hanksville, UT | 486 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 14 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 4,453 ft | 00:30 UTC |
| KNB Kanab, UT | 606 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 7 mi | none | 4,867 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| AZC Colorado City, AZ | 625 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet Weather: heavy rain | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 4 mi | 2,800 ft | 4,873 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 754 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 4,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 27 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | 4,600 ft | 707 ft | 20:47 UTC |
| TNP Twentynine Palms, CA | 844 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,888 ft | ||||
| TRM Palm Springs, CA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | -114 ft | 5:52 pm PDT (00:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TRM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:07 am PDT (10:07 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TRM
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 745 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at TRM 6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:39 pm PDT (01:39 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TRM is before sunrise there (6:46 am PDT (13:46 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, Jacqueline Cochran Regional.