Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport to Boeing Fld/King County International XNA → BFI
1,411 nautical miles (1,623 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 307°, about 306° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC). Right now XNA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots; BFI is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) 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 3W: 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 497 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 457 to 815 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 526 to 824 nm out.
- 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 route from 606 to 795 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 666 to 1043 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 705 to 1212 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 705 nm along 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 route from 775 to 1122 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 964 to 1142 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1063 to 1291 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 179 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 XNA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 30,000 ft, 22 nm south, 12:45 am CDT (05:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 705 nm along the route, 22 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIW UA /OV BOY126080/TM 0545/FL300/TP B38M/TB CONS MOD CHOP /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIW
- Where
- 80 nm southeast (126°) of BOY
- Time
- 05:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate chop zlc
- E75L at 1,500 ft, 29 nm south, 11:49 pm CDT (04:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final. 1262 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSC UA /OV PSC120003/TM 0449/FL015/TP E75L/RM LLWS LOSS OF 8 KTS ON FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSC
- Where
- 3 nm southeast (120°) of PSC
- Time
- 04:49 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final
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 10 forecast points nearest it (TUL, ICT, SLN, GLD, BFF, LND, DLN, LWS, YKM, SEA). 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 | 210° at 21 kt | −3 kt | 123 kt | 11 h 28 min | 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | +1 kt | 7 °C | 119 kt | 11 h 51 min | 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | +2 kt | 3 °C | 118 kt | 11 h 57 min | 12:06 pm PDT (19:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 14 kt | +3 kt | 3 °C | 117 kt | 12 h 04 min | 12:13 pm PDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | +3 kt | 0 °C | 117 kt | 12 h 04 min | 12:13 pm PDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +4 kt | -5 °C | 116 kt | 12 h 10 min | 12:19 pm PDT (19:19 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | +4 kt | -9 °C | 116 kt | 12 h 10 min | 12:19 pm PDT (19:19 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 19 kt | +5 kt | -12 °C | 115 kt | 12 h 16 min | 12:25 pm PDT (19:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 25 kt | +7 kt | -23 °C | 113 kt | 12 h 29 min | 12:38 pm PDT (19:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 37 kt | +16 kt | -32 °C | 104 kt | 13 h 34 min | 1:43 pm PDT (20:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 43 kt | +20 kt | -37 °C | 100 kt | 14 h 07 min | 2:16 pm PDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 46 kt | +26 kt | -45 °C | 94 kt | 15 h 01 min | 3:10 pm PDT (22:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUL | used from 0 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| ICT | used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| SLN | used from 199 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GLD | used from 298 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 447 nm out; 81 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° | |
| LND | used from 646 nm out; 107 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° | ||
| DLN | used from 894 nm out; 71 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° | ||
| LWS | used from 1093 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| YKM | used from 1242 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| SEA | used from 1341 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| IDP Independence, KS | 89 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 824 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 199 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| HLC Hill City, KS | 318 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 18 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 2,238 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| HEQ Holyoke, CO | 457 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,729 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 685 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots | 8 mi | none | 5,344 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RIW Riverton, WY | 765 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,516 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 914 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 400 ft | 6,649 ft | 06:50 UTC |
| SMN Salmon, ID | 1033 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 4,044 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| LWS Lewiston, ID | 1182 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,442 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 1291 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,188 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| BFI Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (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 BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFI
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for XNA, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 XNA 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at BFI 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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: Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport, Boeing Fld/King County International.