Salt Lake City International to Great Falls International SLC → GTF
403 nautical miles (463 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 004°, about 353° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 62-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:42 am MDT (09:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SLC is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots; GTF is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 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: 2,138 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 246 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole 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 187 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 147 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 118 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 SLC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E73L descending, 16 nm east, 12:20 am MDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 305 nm along the route, 16 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E73L
- Remarks
- breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
- B737 , 16 nm east, 11:31 pm MDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. 305 nm along the route, 16 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 05:31 UTC
- Height
- at BURD
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
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 4 forecast points nearest it (SLC, PIH, DLN, GTF). 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 | 090° at 2 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 3 h 22 min | 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 130° at 1 kt | −1 kt | 121 kt | 3 h 20 min | 4:49 am MDT (10:49 UTC) | |
| 8,500 ft | 180° at 2 kt | −2 kt | -6 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 18 min | 4:47 am MDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 8 kt | −6 kt | -3 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 12 min | 4:41 am MDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | −12 kt | -5 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 03 min | 4:32 am MDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -9 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 53 min | 4:22 am MDT (10:22 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | −27 kt | -12 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 44 min | 4:13 am MDT (10:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 36 kt | −33 kt | -15 °C | 153 kt | 2 h 38 min | 4:07 am MDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 200° at 59 kt | −56 kt | -25 °C | 176 kt | 2 h 17 min | 3:46 am MDT (09:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 66 kt | −58 kt | -32 °C | 178 kt | 2 h 16 min | 3:45 am MDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 74 kt | −62 kt | -36 °C | 182 kt | 2 h 13 min | 3:42 am MDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 70 kt | −56 kt | -43 °C | 176 kt | 2 h 17 min | 3:46 am MDT (09:46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | used from 0 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° | |
| PIH | used from 49 nm out; 63 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 196 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° | ||
| GTF | used from 344 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 070/11 | 080/15 -7° | 110/19 -9° | 190/25 -14° | 200/34 -23° | 200/54 -39° | 220/66 -40° | 220/77 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 12:54 am MDT (06:54 UTC) |
| OGD Ogden, UT | 20 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 4,472 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LGU Logan, UT | 59 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 4,456 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | 167 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 4,743 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 236 nm out, 22 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 600 ft | 6,649 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| EKS Ennis, MT | 265 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, a broken layer at 3,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist | calm | 6 mi | 3,200 ft | 5,432 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 305 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 3,700 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 3,700 ft | 4,473 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| HLN Helena, MT | 344 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 4,500 ft | 3,877 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GTF Great Falls, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 5 mi | 1,200 ft | 3,680 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 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 GTF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:42 am MDT (09:42 UTC)
Wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet IFR
At times between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, overcast at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for GTF
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, overcast at 600 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- At times between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet
The forecast for SLC, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 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 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 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
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer 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 SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC), at GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GTF is before sunrise there (7:39 am MDT (13:39 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: Salt Lake City International, Great Falls International.