South Bend International to Billings Logan International SBN → BIL
991 nautical miles (1,141 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 292°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 8:11 pm MDT (02:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SBN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 545 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 20 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 SBN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C17 at 2,000 ft, 31 nm southwest, 11:06 am EDT (15:06 UTC): overcast above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 89 nm along the route, 31 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 1506/FL020/TP C17/SK OVC020/WV 23KT HEAD WIND/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- 1L arrival
- Time
- 15:06 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 2,000 ft
- Wind
- 23 knots head wind
- Remarks
- during the descent
- SR22 at 8,000 ft, 24 nm north, 12:55 pm EDT (16:55 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 654 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MBG UA /OV MBG200017/TM 1655/FL080/TP SR22/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through MBG
- Where
- 17 nm south (200°) of MBG
- Time
- 16:55 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- BE9L at 15,000 ft, 27 nm south, 10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 664 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIR UA /OV PIR270040/TM 1453/FL150/TP BE9L/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIR
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of PIR
- Time
- 14:53 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- BE9L at 15,000 ft, 40 nm south, 10:41 am EDT (14:41 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 694 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHP UA /OV PHP340020/TM 1441/FL150/TP BE9L/SK TOP 155 BKN/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHP
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of PHP
- Time
- 14:41 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Sky
- top 15,500 ft broken
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- CL35 at 43,000 ft, 25 nm north, 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC): no chop turbulence. 892 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MLS UA /OV MLS195024/TM 1553/FL430/TP CL35/TB NEG CHOP /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MLS
- Where
- 24 nm south (195°) of MLS
- Time
- 15:53 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Turbulence
- no chop zlc
- CL35 at 45,000 ft, 45 nm north, 11:42 am EDT (15:42 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIL UA /OV BIL345045/TM 1542/FL450/TP CL35/TB CONS LGT CHOP /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIL
- Where
- 45 nm north (345°) of BIL
- Time
- 15:42 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop zlc
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 10 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, LSE, MCW, FSD, ABR, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 250° at 14 kt | +11 kt | 4 °C | 109 kt | 9 h 06 min | 8:11 pm MDT (02:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 12 °C | 108 kt | 9 h 11 min | 8:16 pm MDT (02:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 32 min | 8:37 pm MDT (02:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +19 kt | 6 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 49 min | 8:54 pm MDT (02:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | +22 kt | 2 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 07 min | 9:12 pm MDT (03:12 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -2 °C | 97 kt | 10 h 13 min | 9:18 pm MDT (03:18 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 10 h 19 min | 9:24 pm MDT (03:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 30 kt | +24 kt | -10 °C | 96 kt | 10 h 19 min | 9:24 pm MDT (03:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 39 kt | +30 kt | -23 °C | 90 kt | 11 h 01 min | 10:06 pm MDT (04:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 44 kt | +38 kt | -34 °C | 82 kt | 12 h 05 min | 11:10 pm MDT (05:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 48 kt | +43 kt | -37 °C | 77 kt | 12 h 52 min | 11:57 pm MDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 53 kt | +48 kt | -45 °C | 72 kt | 13 h 46 min | 12:51 am MDT (06:51 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 230/30 | 250/26 16° | 270/27 11° | 280/34 5° | 290/32 -8° | 280/37 -21° | 280/40 -36° | 290/46 -37° | 290/56 -47° |
| DBQ | used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/32 19° | 250/35 11° | 260/37 5° | 270/35 -9° | 270/40 -21° | 270/43 -35° | 280/49 -37° | 280/58 -46° |
| LSE | used from 248 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 240/16 | 230/27 20° | 250/35 12° | 260/28 5° | 260/30 -9° | 260/37 -21° | 260/38 -36° | 280/44 -37° | 280/52 -47° |
| MCW | used from 297 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 220/19 | 210/29 20° | 230/35 13° | 250/35 5° | 250/33 -9° | 260/44 -21° | 260/46 -33° | 270/58 -37° | 270/59 -46° |
| FSD | used from 396 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 260/9 | 210/16 18° | 220/27 14° | 230/28 6° | 240/39 -9° | 240/48 -22° | 260/52 -32° | 260/61 -38° | 260/60 -46° |
| ABR | used from 545 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 020/9 | 230/5 12° | 190/14 11° | 200/25 5° | 230/37 -11° | 230/50 -23° | 240/39 -34° | 240/49 -38° | 240/55 -46° |
| PIR | used from 595 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 300/15 10° | 270/10 10° | 220/18 4° | 220/36 -11° | 230/43 -21° | 240/48 -33° | 240/51 -37° | 240/55 -44° | |
| RAP | used from 694 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 310/18 6° | 270/15 6° | 260/20 2° | 240/28 -11° | 240/42 -23° | 240/47 -35° | 230/47 -36° | 240/56 -44° | |
| MLS | used from 793 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 320/9 -2° | 270/14 0° | 260/22 -1° | 220/30 -14° | 210/43 -26° | 230/53 -34° | 230/54 -38° | 230/59 -44° | |
| BIL | used from 942 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 250/11 -1° | 240/20 -2° | 230/28 -15° | 220/28 -28° | 220/53 -34° | 220/55 -39° | 220/63 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBN South Bend, IN | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 12:54 pm EDT (16:54 UTC) |
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | 79 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 16:52 UTC |
| JVL Janesville, WI | 129 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 23,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 807 ft | 14:45 UTC |
| PDC Prairie du Chien, WI | 228 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 17:15 UTC |
| SBU Blue Earth, MN | 357 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,107 ft | ||||
| MWM Windom, MN | 406 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,410 ft | 16:55 UTC |
| HON Huron, SD | 545 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 1.75 mi | 300 ft | 1,288 ft | 16:55 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 3,662 ft | 10:53 am MDT (16:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,662 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:11 pm MDT (02:11 UTC)
Wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BIL
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain snow, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the east at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
The forecast for SBN, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 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 SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BIL is after sunset there (6:33 pm MDT (00:33 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: South Bend International, Billings Logan International.