Mineta San Jose International to Billings Logan International SJC → BIL
785 nautical miles (903 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 046°, about 033° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:54 am MDT (17:54 UTC). Right now SJC is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots; BIL is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 248 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 89 to 119 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 348 to 755 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 387 nm of the route.
- 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 328 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. 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 SJC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 27,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 5:56 am PDT (12:56 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 427 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TWF UA /OV TWF247042/TM 1256/FL270/TP B739/TB MOD CHOP/ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TWF
- Where
- 42 nm southwest (247°) of TWF
- Time
- 12:56 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- moderate chop/zlc
- B737 at 15,000 ft, 50 nm southeast, 5:12 am PDT (12:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: continuous light turbulence occasional moderate chop entered by zoa fdcs. 129 nm along the route, 50 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAT UA /OV FMG150080/TM 1212/FL150/TP B737/TB LGT/RM CONS LGT TURB OCNL MOD CHOP ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAT
- Where
- 80 nm southeast (150°) of FMG
- Time
- 12:12 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- continuous light turbulence occasional moderate chop entered by zoa fdcs
- B738 at 14,000 ft, 3 nm north, 5:38 am PDT (12:38 UTC): light icing, -2 °C. 159 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RNO UA /OV RNO130020/TM 1238/FL140/TP B738/TA M02/IC LGT RM
- Report
- a routine report filed through RNO
- Where
- 20 nm southeast (130°) of RNO
- Time
- 12:38 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Icing
- light remarks
- BCS1 at 25,000 ft, 35 nm southeast, 5:22 am PDT (12:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 536 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIH UA /OV PIH/TM 1222/FL250/TP BCS1/SK TOP 265/ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIH
- Where
- over PIH
- Time
- 12:22 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS1
- Sky
- top 26,500 ft; zlc
- CRJ7 at 4,800 ft, 35 nm southeast, 5:10 am PDT (12:10 UTC): overcast above 4,800 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 21 pih. 536 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIH UA /OV KPIH/TM 1210/FL048/TP CRJ7/SK OVC048-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY21 PIH
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIH
- Where
- over KPIH
- Time
- 12:10 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 4,800 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 21 pih
- C25A at 5,000 ft, 3 nm west, 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): light rime icing, 4 °C, remarks: lt rime in the descent. At the destination end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BIL UA /OV 100006/TM 1300/FL050/TP C25A/TA 4/IC LT RIME/RM LT RIME IN THE DESCENT
- Report
- a routine report filed through BIL
- Where
- wind from 100° at 6 knots
- Time
- 13:00 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C25A
- Temperature
- 4 °C
- Icing
- lt rime
- Remarks
- lt rime in the descent
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, BAM, BOI, PIH, DLN, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 010° at 5 kt | +4 kt | 1 °C | 116 kt | 6 h 46 min | 1:55 pm MDT (19:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 3 kt | −2 kt | -2 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 26 min | 1:35 pm MDT (19:35 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -3 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 11 min | 1:20 pm MDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | −14 kt | -6 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 51 min | 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | −17 kt | -9 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 44 min | 12:53 pm MDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -12 °C | 138 kt | 5 h 41 min | 12:50 pm MDT (18:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | −19 kt | -16 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 39 min | 12:48 pm MDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 20 kt | −19 kt | -17 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 39 min | 12:48 pm MDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 18 kt | −17 kt | -27 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 44 min | 12:53 pm MDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 36 kt | −35 kt | -32 °C | 155 kt | 5 h 04 min | 12:13 pm MDT (18:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 45 kt | −44 kt | -36 °C | 164 kt | 4 h 47 min | 11:56 am MDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 45 kt | −45 kt | -43 °C | 165 kt | 4 h 45 min | 11:54 am MDT (17:54 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 090/9 | 050/12 4° | 010/17 -2° | 350/34 -3° | 360/70 -11° | 360/75 -22° | 350/57 -38° | 330/37 -42° | 280/25 -44° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
| RNO | used from 99 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 010/6 | 270/12 -3° | 220/26 -10° | 280/13 -19° | 350/44 -24° | 320/30 -32° | 260/22 -36° | 240/24 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 248 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 280/9 -2° | 260/18 -8° | 190/47 -19° | 200/50 -29° | 210/56 -29° | 220/54 -34° | 220/45 -42° | ||
| BOI | used from 397 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 320/11 1° | 280/8 -5° | 220/14 -11° | 200/60 -19° | 190/66 -31° | 210/46 -32° | 220/50 -33° | 220/43 -39° | |
| PIH | used from 447 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 596 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| BIL | used from 695 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJC San Jose, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, a few clouds at 9,500 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 62 ft | 5:53 am PDT (12:53 UTC) |
| SCK Stockton, CA | 50 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA | 129 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: rain, mist | variable at 3 knots | 3 mi | 1,400 ft | 6,268 ft | 13:05 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | 159 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| BAM Battle Mountain, NV | 308 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 4,536 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 457 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,700 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 4,153 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| BYI Burley, ID | 487 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 4,153 ft | 13:02 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | 586 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 4,743 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 655 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 6,649 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RED Red Lodge, MT | 735 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5,762 ft | ||||
| BIL Billings, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 3,662 ft | 6:53 am MDT (12:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,649 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, 11:54 am MDT (17:54 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 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 SJC, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 SJC 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC), at BIL 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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: Mineta San Jose International, Billings Logan International.