Albuquerque International Sunport to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal ABQ → COS
244 nautical miles (281 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 021°, about 010° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 79-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:05 am MDT (16:05 UTC). Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25. 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: 7 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 195 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 ABQ.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent E75L at 6,600 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:08 am MDT (14:08 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 25-knot gain of airspeed during the climb 17L. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UUA /OV COS/TM 1408/FL066/TP E75L/TB LGT/RM LLWS +25KTS DURC 17L
- Report
- an urgent report filed through COS
- Where
- over COS
- Time
- 14:08 UTC
- Height
- at 6,600 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 25-knot gain of airspeed during the climb 17L
- urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 46 nm north, 6:54 am MDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. At the destination end, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:54 UTC
- Height
- at 6,700 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
- urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 46 nm north, 6:40 am MDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. At the destination end, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:40 UTC
- Height
- at 6,800 ft
- Aircraft
- FA7X
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
- urgent TBM7 at 100 ft, 45 nm north, 6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. At the destination end, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV APA140001/TM 1230/FL001/TP TBM7/TB LGT CHOP/RM LLWS +-10KTS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- 1 nm southeast (140°) of APA
- Time
- 12:30 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM7
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed
- F2TH at 36,300 ft, 24 nm southeast, 7:15 am MDT (13:15 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence above 36,300 ft, wind 255° at 90 knots. 224 nm along the route, 24 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB /TM 1315 /FL363 /TP F2TH /WV 25590KT /TB MOD CAT 363
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- over PUB
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 36,300 ft
- Aircraft
- F2TH
- Wind
- from 255° at 90 knots
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence at 36,300 ft
- E55P at 8,000 ft, 5 nm south, 8:30 am MDT (14:30 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV 5S COS/TM 1430/FL080/TP E55P/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 5S cos
- Time
- 14:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Turbulence
- moderate
- B738 descending, 47 nm northwest, 6:55 am MDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40SW den
- Time
- 12:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- C172 at 9,500 ft, 14 nm north, 6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK348/005/TM 1243/FL095/TP C172/TB TB MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- BRK348/005
- Time
- 12:43 UTC
- Height
- at 9,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- turbulence moderate chop
- C172 at 200 ft, 47 nm north, 6:35 am MDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. At the destination end, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA350001/TM 1235/FL002/TP C172/TB MOD TURB/RM LLWS +-15KTS
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 1 nm north (350°) of APA
- Time
- 12:35 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- moderate turbulence
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed
- C525 at 12,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 8:44 am MDT (14:44 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ096028/TM 1444/FL120/TP C525/TB LGT-MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 28 nm east (096°) of ABQ
- Time
- 14:44 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C525
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- BE30 at 15,000 ft, 2 nm north, 7:27 am MDT (13:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 29 nm along the route, 2 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAF UA /OV SAF255015/TM 1327/FL150/TP BE30/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAF
- Where
- 15 nm west (255°) of SAF
- Time
- 13:27 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE30
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- E55P at 8,000 ft, 3 nm south, 8:43 am MDT (14:43 UTC): thunderstorms. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV 3S COS/TM 1443/FL080/TP E55P/WV +10KTS
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 3S cos
- Time
- 14:43 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Wind
- a 10-knot gain of airspeed
- P46T at 12,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 8:15 am MDT (14:15 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK150015/TM 1415/FL120/TP P46T/TB LGT-MOD/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm southeast (150°) of BRK
- Time
- 14:15 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P46T
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- during the climb
- C172 at 7,800 ft, 41 nm north, 7:57 am MDT (13:57 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA150006/TM 1357/FL078/TP C172/TB LGT-MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 6 nm southeast (150°) of APA
- Time
- 13:57 UTC
- Height
- at 7,800 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
3 more routine reports are on the map.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 (ABQ, ALS, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 10 °C | 140 kt | 1 h 45 min | 10:36 am MDT (16:36 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 9 °C | 142 kt | 1 h 43 min | 10:34 am MDT (16:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −30 kt | 4 °C | 150 kt | 1 h 38 min | 10:29 am MDT (16:29 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 39 kt | −35 kt | 0 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 34 min | 10:25 am MDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 45 kt | −40 kt | -3 °C | 160 kt | 1 h 32 min | 10:23 am MDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 51 kt | −45 kt | -7 °C | 165 kt | 1 h 29 min | 10:20 am MDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 53 kt | −47 kt | -8 °C | 167 kt | 1 h 28 min | 10:19 am MDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 67 kt | −61 kt | -20 °C | 181 kt | 1 h 21 min | 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 82 kt | −71 kt | -27 °C | 191 kt | 1 h 17 min | 10:08 am MDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 90 kt | −79 kt | -36 °C | 199 kt | 1 h 14 min | 10:05 am MDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 89 kt | −74 kt | -49 °C | 194 kt | 1 h 15 min | 10:06 am MDT (16:06 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | 200/19 9° | 220/32 3° | 230/52 -7° | 220/67 -20° | 230/86 -26° | 230/87 -36° | 230/87 -49° | ||
| ALS | used from 98 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 230/34 2° | 230/57 -9° | 230/72 -19° | 230/82 -27° | 230/91 -36° | 240/89 -48° | |||
| PUB | used from 195 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 250/31 11° | 240/42 5° | 230/46 -7° | 230/59 -20° | 240/77 -30° | 230/94 -37° | 240/95 -49° |
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: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 7:52 am MDT (13:52 UTC) |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 39 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LAM Los Alamos, NM | 49 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,170 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| SKX Taos, NM | 98 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| ALS Alamosa, CO | 146 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 7,539 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 215 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,729 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 7:54 am MDT (13:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,539 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:05 am MDT (16:05 UTC)
Wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for COS
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 18 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ABQ, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 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, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 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 COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 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, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.