Albuquerque International Sunport to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field ABQ → ASE
251 nautical miles (289 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 357°, about 346° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:15 am MDT (09:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 knots; ASE is VFR, wind variable at 3 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
- SIGMET C12C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 25,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am MDT (08:55 UTC). Near the route, 116 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120655 MKCC WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12C VALID UNTIL 0855Z CO NM FROM 40W PUB-30SSE PUB-30W CIM-50WSW ALS-40W PUB DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL250.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 164 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the whole route.
- 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), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 106 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 77 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 ABQ.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 11,000 ft, 49 nm west, 12:58 am MDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 126 nm along the route, 49 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- over DRO
- Time
- 06:58 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BASE117
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36
- PC12 at 26,000 ft, 28 nm east, 12:27 am MDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 193 nm along the route, 28 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 40 nm east (090°) of HBU
- Time
- 06:27 UTC
- Height
- at 26,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-12
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 3 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, ALS, GJT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | −26 kt | 10 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 43 min | 3:23 am MDT (09:23 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | −25 kt | 6 °C | 145 kt | 1 h 44 min | 3:24 am MDT (09:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −27 kt | 3 °C | 147 kt | 1 h 42 min | 3:22 am MDT (09:22 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 43 kt | −30 kt | -2 °C | 150 kt | 1 h 40 min | 3:20 am MDT (09:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 47 kt | −34 kt | -7 °C | 154 kt | 1 h 38 min | 3:18 am MDT (09:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 50 kt | −37 kt | -10 °C | 157 kt | 1 h 36 min | 3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 62 kt | −39 kt | -21 °C | 159 kt | 1 h 35 min | 3:15 am MDT (09:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 73 kt | −37 kt | -26 °C | 157 kt | 1 h 36 min | 3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 73 kt | −35 kt | -34 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 37 min | 3:17 am MDT (09:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 56 kt | −33 kt | -46 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 38 min | 3:18 am MDT (09:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| ALS | used from 97 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| GJT | used from 193 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 12:52 am MDT (06:52 UTC) |
| LAM Los Alamos, NM | 48 nm out, 19 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,170 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| PSO Pagosa Springs, CO | 135 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 2 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 7,663 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| GUC Gunnison, CO | 213 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,679 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 7,837 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ASE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:15 am MDT (09:15 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
The forecast for ABQ, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 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 ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC), at ASE 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is before sunrise there (7:14 am MDT (13:14 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: Albuquerque International Sunport, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.