Central Wyoming Regional to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field RIW → BFF
227 nautical miles (261 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 107°, about 097° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:36 pm MDT (04:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIW is VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 3 knots; BFF is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 12 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: 3 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 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 10 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 first 138 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 49 nm of the route.
- 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 first 207 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 39 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 departure 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 RIW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 19 nm north, 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear dept runway 03 gain/loss unknown. 89 nm along the route, 19 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 runway 03 gain/loss unknown
- CRJ2 at 9,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC): light chop turbulence, vmc, remarks: occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast 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
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 2 forecast points nearest it (LND, BFF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 180° at 28 kt | +9 kt | 111 kt | 2 h 03 min | 11:14 pm MDT (05:14 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 26 kt | −1 kt | 6 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 53 min | 11:04 pm MDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | −8 kt | 10 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 46 min | 10:57 pm MDT (04:57 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 30 kt | −8 kt | 5 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 46 min | 10:57 pm MDT (04:57 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | −11 kt | 1 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 44 min | 10:55 pm MDT (04:55 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | −13 kt | -4 °C | 133 kt | 1 h 42 min | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | −15 kt | -9 °C | 135 kt | 1 h 41 min | 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | −16 kt | -10 °C | 136 kt | 1 h 40 min | 10:51 pm MDT (04:51 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 40 kt | −18 kt | -22 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 39 min | 10:50 pm MDT (04:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 45 kt | −17 kt | -31 °C | 137 kt | 1 h 39 min | 10:50 pm MDT (04:50 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 54 kt | −29 kt | -36 °C | 149 kt | 1 h 31 min | 10:42 pm MDT (04:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 59 kt | −40 kt | -46 °C | 160 kt | 1 h 25 min | 10:36 pm MDT (04:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LND | used from 0 nm out; 36 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° | ||
| BFF | used from 99 nm out; 104 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIW Riverton, WY | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,516 ft | 9:06 pm MDT (03:06 UTC) |
| CPR Casper, WY | 89 nm out, 17 nm north 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 |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 168 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 4,401 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| TOR Torrington, WY | 197 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the east (080°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,206 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | VFR | from the east (100°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,516 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:36 pm MDT (04:36 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 15,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFF
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RIW, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 15 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 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 RIW 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC), at BFF 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFF is after sunset there (6:19 pm MDT (00:19 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: Central Wyoming Regional, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.