overfly
CYVQ → CYFSOpen in the mapper
ROUTE DISTANCE

Norman Wells to Fort SimpsonCYVQ → CYFS

Norman Wells Airport (CYVQ / YVQ) in Norman Wells, Canada to Fort Simpson Airport (CYFS / YFS) in Fort Simpson, Canada is 258 nautical miles — 478 kilometres, or 297 statute miles — on the great circle, on an initial bearing of 142°. A business jet at Mach 0.85 and FL410 takes about 1h 00m block time in still air.

Published by Overfly · Airport data: OurAirports, · Last updated

NAUTICAL MILES
258
KILOMETRES
478
STATUTE MILES
297
INITIAL BEARING
142°
BLOCK TIME
1h 00m
M0.85 · FL410 · still air

Can the aeroplane make it?

Range here is usable range — book range at long-range cruise, less a reserve allowance. It is the figure that decides whether the leg closes, and it is the question most mappers do not answer.

G650ER7,300 nm usable · 4%clears
G5506,550 nm usable · 4%clears
Global 75007,500 nm usable · 3%clears
Falcon 8X6,250 nm usable · 4%clears
Falcon 7X5,750 nm usable · 4%clears
Challenger 3503,000 nm usable · 9%clears
A350-9008,250 nm usable · 3%clears
B777-300ER7,120 nm usable · 4%clears
A320neo3,150 nm usable · 8%clears
A3203,150 nm usable · 8%clears
B737 MAX 83,250 nm usable · 8%clears
B737-8002,850 nm usable · 9%clears
An-1242,950 nm usable · 9%clears
Concorde3,650 nm usable · 7%clears
King Air 2001,400 nm usable · 18%clears
ATR 721,300 nm usable · 20%clears
Dash 8 Q4001,100 nm usable · 23%clears

How far from an airport?

The worst point on the great circle is 1h 40m from the nearest suitable airport, Edmonton (CYEG), at the one-engine diversion speed Overfly uses (430 kt in still air). A twin flying this track needs ETOPS 120 approval or more: ETOPS 120 allows up to 120 minutes from an alternate.

EQUAL-TIME POINTBETWEENTO EACH
63.9°N 124.5°WAnchorage (PANC) and Edmonton (CYEG)1h 40m

A suitable airport here is one OurAirports classes as large with a runway of 8,000 ft or more. An operator’s real alternates also depend on weather, fire cover and approval, and its diversion speed on the type. More in equal-time points and ETOPS, explained.

The two fields

CYVQ / YVQ
Norman Wells Airport
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada65.2816, -126.798073 m · 238 ft elevationlongest runway 10/28 · 1,828 m
CYFS / YFS
Fort Simpson Airport
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada61.7602, -121.2370169 m · 555 ft elevationlongest runway 14/32 · 1,829 m

Questions people ask about this route

How far is it from Norman Wells (CYVQ) to Fort Simpson (CYFS)?

258 nautical miles. That is 478 kilometres or 297 statute miles, measured as a great circle between Norman Wells Airport and Fort Simpson Airport.

How long is the flight from Norman Wells to Fort Simpson?

About 1h 00m block time for a business jet cruising at Mach 0.85 at FL410 in still air, including 30 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Wind moves that figure in either direction — eastbound across the North Atlantic or the Pacific it can be an hour or more. This page is deliberately still-air so the figure is stable and citable; to apply the month's average upper winds from NOAA, open the route in the mapper and switch on seasonal winds.

What is the initial bearing from Norman Wells (CYVQ) to Fort Simpson (CYFS)?

142° true at the departure point. A great circle changes heading continuously, so this is the initial bearing, not a constant one.

Which aircraft can fly Norman Wells to Fort Simpson non-stop?

Of the types Overfly carries, G650ER, G550, Global 7500, Falcon 8X, Falcon 7X, Challenger 350, A350-900, B777-300ER, A320neo, A320, B737 MAX 8, B737-800, An-124, Concorde, King Air 200, ATR 72, Dash 8 Q400 clear it on usable range — that is book range less a reserve allowance.

Check it against your own aircraft
Open the route in the mapper to set cruise, flight level and reserve, edit the schedule, and add legs.
Open CYVQ → CYFS
NEARBY ROUTES

For reference and planning interest. Not for operational flight planning. Distances are great circle on a sphere from WGS-84 coordinates; block times assume still air. © 2026 Overfly.Flights