Williston Basin International to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field XWA → BFF
383 nautical miles (441 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 179°, about 171° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 1:01 am MDT (07:01 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now XWA is IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 12 knots; BFF is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 12 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: 6 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 first 256 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 147 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 XWA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PA24 at 6,000 ft, 40 nm east, 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC): light rime icing from 5,000 ft to 6,000 ft, 2 °C. At the departure end, 40 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
XWA UA /OV XWA060040/TM 0048/FL060/TP PA24/TA 02/IC LGT RIME 060-050
- Report
- a routine report filed through XWA
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (060°) of XWA
- Time
- 00:48 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA24
- Temperature
- 2 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 6,000 ft to 5,000 ft
- BE20 at 15,000 ft, 32 nm west, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): -5 °C, remarks: clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31. 246 nm along the route, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CUT UA /OV ECS340020/TM 0156/FL150/TP BE20/TA M05/IC T RIME 150-180/RM CLR OUT AT 220 ZDVWC-31
- Report
- a routine report filed through CUT
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of ECS
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Icing
- T rime from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-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 3 forecast points nearest it (DIK, RAP, BFF). 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 | 170° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 57 min | 1:08 am MDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 190° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 9 °C | 92 kt | 4 h 10 min | 1:21 am MDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 37 kt | +33 kt | 10 °C | 87 kt | 4 h 24 min | 1:35 am MDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 41 kt | +34 kt | 5 °C | 86 kt | 4 h 27 min | 1:38 am MDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 41 kt | +32 kt | 1 °C | 88 kt | 4 h 21 min | 1:32 am MDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | +29 kt | -4 °C | 91 kt | 4 h 13 min | 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | +26 kt | -8 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 04 min | 1:15 am MDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | +25 kt | -9 °C | 95 kt | 4 h 02 min | 1:13 am MDT (07:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 41 kt | +27 kt | -21 °C | 93 kt | 4 h 07 min | 1:18 am MDT (07:18 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 37 kt | +23 kt | -36 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 57 min | 1:08 am MDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 49 kt | +21 kt | -40 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 52 min | 1:03 am MDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 60 kt | +20 kt | -47 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 50 min | 1:01 am MDT (07:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIK | used from 0 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| RAP | used from 147 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 295 nm out; 64 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XWA Williston, ND | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (040°) at 12 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 2,356 ft | 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC) |
| SDY Sidney, MT | 29 nm out, 19 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 800 ft | 1,985 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| BHK Baker, MT | 118 nm out, 23 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (090°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 2,980 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| BWW Bowman, ND | 128 nm out, 17 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the east (080°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,965 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SPF Spearfish, SD | 226 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the east (080°) at 7 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 3,933 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| CUT Custer, SD | 275 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | none | 5,619 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| CDR Chadron, NE | 324 nm out, 23 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,297 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | VFR | from the east (100°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,619 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:01 am MDT (07:01 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFF
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for XWA, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 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 XWA 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC), at BFF 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFF is before sunrise there (7:03 am MDT (13:03 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: Williston Basin International, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.