Van Nuys Airport to Great Falls International VNY → GTF
859 nautical miles (989 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 020°, about 008° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 62-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:56 am MDT (10:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now VNY is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots; GTF is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 10 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 below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 180 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 140 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 190 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 599 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 280 to 689 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 380 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 250 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 160 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 VNY.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 13,000 ft, 48 nm south, 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SLI UA /OV SLI180020/TM 0330/FL130/TP B737/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through SLI
- Where
- 20 nm south (180°) of SLI
- Time
- 03:30 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- PC12 at 17,000 ft, 45 nm west, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 230 nm along the route, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through TPH
- Where
- over OAL
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Temperature
- −15 °C
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Icing
- moderate rime
- Remarks
- entered by zoa fdcs
- GLF5 at 3,500 ft, 1 nm north, 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC): overcast above 3,600 ft. At the departure end, 1 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
VNY UA /OV VNY36006/TM 0454/FL035/TP GLF5/SK OVC036
- Report
- a routine report filed through VNY
- Where
- VNY36006
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Sky
- overcast from 3,600 ft
- E75L at 3,600 ft, 23 nm southeast, 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC): overcast above 6,600 ft, remarks: bases 3,600 ft. At the departure end, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
KLAX UA /OV 10 E LAX/TM 0330/FL036/TP E75L/SK OVC066/RM BASES 036
- Report
- a routine report filed through KLAX
- Where
- 10 east lax
- Time
- 03:30 UTC
- Height
- at 3,600 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- overcast from 6,600 ft
- Remarks
- bases 3,600 ft
- B737 at 3,500 ft, 29 nm southeast, 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC): a broken layer above 3,500 ft. At the departure end, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGB UA /OV LGB/TM 0325/FL035/TP B737/SK BKN035
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGB
- Where
- over LGB
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,500 ft
- B38M at 3,000 ft, 49 nm east, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 8,000 ft, remarks: BASE030. At the departure end, 49 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV KONT080005/TM 0547/FL030/TP B38M/SK BKN029-TOP080/RM BASE030
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 5 nm east (080°) of KONT
- Time
- 05:47 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,900 ft, tops 8,000 ft
- Remarks
- BASE030
- E175 at 6,300 ft, 18 nm northwest, 9:20 pm PDT (04:20 UTC): overcast above 6,300 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 31. 589 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV KSUN/TM 0420/FL063/TP E175/SK OVC063-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY31
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- over KSUN
- Time
- 04:20 UTC
- Height
- at 6,300 ft
- Aircraft
- E175
- Sky
- overcast from 6,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 31
- E175 at 5,900 ft, 18 nm northwest, 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC): a broken layer above 5,900 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 31. 589 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV KSUN/TM 0329/FL059/TP E175/SK BKN059-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY31
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- over KSUN
- Time
- 03:29 UTC
- Height
- at 5,900 ft
- Aircraft
- E175
- Sky
- a broken layer from 5,900 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 31
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 7 forecast points nearest it (WJF, BIH, ELY, BAM, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 5 kt | −5 kt | 6 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 52 min | 7:05 am MDT (13:05 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 10 kt | −10 kt | 0 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 36 min | 6:49 am MDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 12 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 30 min | 6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | −15 kt | -3 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 22 min | 6:35 am MDT (12:35 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 06 min | 6:19 am MDT (12:19 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -11 °C | 147 kt | 5 h 51 min | 6:04 am MDT (12:04 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -14 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 37 min | 5:50 am MDT (11:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -15 °C | 155 kt | 5 h 33 min | 5:46 am MDT (11:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 52 kt | −52 kt | -25 °C | 172 kt | 5 h | 5:13 am MDT (11:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 61 kt | −59 kt | -30 °C | 179 kt | 4 h 48 min | 5:01 am MDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 64 kt | −62 kt | -36 °C | 182 kt | 4 h 43 min | 4:56 am MDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 60 kt | −57 kt | -43 °C | 177 kt | 4 h 51 min | 5:04 am MDT (11:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WJF | used from 0 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| BIH | used from 100 nm out; 81 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 250 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BAM | used from 400 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| PIH | used from 499 nm out; 90 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 649 nm out; 44 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 799 nm out; 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VNY Van Nuys, CA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 802 ft | 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC) |
| MHV Mojave, CA | 50 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 2,801 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| IYK Inyokern, CA | 90 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,457 ft | ||||
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 240 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms | from the north (010°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 5,430 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| EKO Elko, NV | 420 nm out, 20 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (080°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 5,139 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| LWL Wells, NV | 450 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5,769 ft | ||||
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 529 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,153 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| AOC Arco, ID | 609 nm out, 19 nm east of the line | no report just now | 5,334 ft | ||||
| BTM Butte, MT | 759 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet Weather: light snow, mist | calm | 4 mi | 1,000 ft | 5,550 ft | 06:09 UTC |
| HLN Helena, MT | 799 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 3,877 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GTF Great Falls, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north (350°) at 10 knots | 3 mi | 1,000 ft | 3,680 ft | 12:01 am MDT (06:01 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,769 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, 4:56 am MDT (10:56 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 VNY, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 90 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at VNY 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 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: Van Nuys Airport, Great Falls International.