Centennial Airport to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field APA → ASE
96 nautical miles (110 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 258°, about 250° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 8:28 pm MDT (02:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now APA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31; ASE is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 12 knots, gusting to 15. 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: 5 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 1W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 38 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1W VALID UNTIL 0255Z CO NM WY AZ UT FROM 40NNW CHE-40WNW TBE-60WNW CME-40N SJN-40ESE MTU-40NNW CHE AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340. WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 29 nm of the 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 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 10 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 APA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 22 nm south, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 22 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 25 nm north (350°) of COS
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-46
- C650 at 40,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:48 pm MDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the destination end, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2348/FL400/TP C650/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-03
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- over DBL
- Time
- 23:48 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C650
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-03
- C680A at 16,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 4:59 pm MDT (22:59 UTC): moderate turbulence, scattered clouds above 16,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV HAERI/TM 2259/FL160/TP C680A/SK SCT160/TB CONS MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- haeri
- Time
- 22:59 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C680A
- Sky
- scattered clouds from 16,000 ft
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B737 descending, 17 nm northeast, 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0123/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 01:23 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 26 nm south, 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV COS340020/TM 0048/FL400/TP GLF6/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of COS
- Time
- 00:48 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF6
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-46
- A321 descending, 17 nm northeast, 6:26 pm MDT (00:26 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 00:26 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 14 nm southeast, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. At the departure end, 14 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm south (170°) of DEN
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
- E75L at 10,000 ft, 40 nm north, 5:45 pm MDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm north (350°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- light from the surface to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- A320 at 8,000 ft, 42 nm east, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B737 at 6,500 ft, 17 nm northeast, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2327/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no turbulence on final runway 17R
- B737 at 25,000 ft, 41 nm south, 6:29 pm MDT (00:29 UTC): light rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-29. 10 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK242015/TM 0029/FL250/TP B737/SK TOP280/TA 00/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC ZDVWC-29
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (242°) of BRK
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- TOP280
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-29
- B738 at 38,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:39 pm MDT (22:39 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: light mountain wave a 8-knot loss of airspeed zdvwc. 58 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV DBL047040/TM 2239/FL380/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP/RM LGT MTN WAVE +/-8KTS ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (047°) of DBL
- Time
- 22:39 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- light mountain wave a 8-knot loss of airspeed zdvwc
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 31 nm north, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 86 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV DBL359020/TM 2327/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP/IC NEG/RM ZDVWC-03
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- 20 nm north (359°) of DBL
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-03
- LJ60 at 15,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC): light to moderate icing from 16,500 ft to 19,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. At the destination end, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MTJ UA /OV MTJ030030/TM 0028/FL150/TP LJ60/TA M13/IC LGT-MOD 190-165/RM DURD ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MTJ
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (030°) of MTJ
- Time
- 00:28 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ60
- Temperature
- −13 °C
- Icing
- light to moderate from 19,000 ft to 16,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
3 more routine reports are on the map.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 1 forecast point nearest it (DEN). 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 | 190° at 31 kt | +12 kt | 16 °C | 108 kt | 53 min | 8:28 pm MDT (02:28 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 200° at 31 kt | +17 kt | 12 °C | 103 kt | 56 min | 8:31 pm MDT (02:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 32 kt | +23 kt | 6 °C | 97 kt | 59 min | 8:34 pm MDT (02:34 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +29 kt | 1 °C | 91 kt | 1 h 03 min | 8:38 pm MDT (02:38 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | +35 kt | -4 °C | 85 kt | 1 h 08 min | 8:43 pm MDT (02:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 41 kt | +39 kt | -8 °C | 81 kt | 1 h 11 min | 8:46 pm MDT (02:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 47 kt | +42 kt | -21 °C | 78 kt | 1 h 14 min | 8:49 pm MDT (02:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 56 kt | +53 kt | -32 °C | 67 kt | 1 h 26 min | 9:01 pm MDT (03:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 65 kt | +64 kt | -37 °C | 56 kt | 1 h 43 min | 9:18 pm MDT (03:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 61 kt | +60 kt | -47 °C | 60 kt | 1 h 36 min | 9:11 pm MDT (03:11 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA Denver, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 5,884 ft | 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) |
| LXV Leadville, CO | 67 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 9,933 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 12 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 7,837 ft | 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,933 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, 8:28 pm MDT (02:28 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 24, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 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 20,000 feet
The forecast for APA, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 APA 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at ASE 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is after sunset there (6:34 pm MDT (00:34 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: Centennial Airport, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.