Centennial Airport to Rifle Garfield County APA → RIL
133 nautical miles (153 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 262° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 7:21 pm MDT (01:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now APA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 22 knots, gusting to 33; RIL is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22. 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 W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 48 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 67 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). Over the last 57 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
- urgent E545 at 6,000 ft, 2 nm north, 3:49 pm MDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. At the departure end, 2 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV APA350002/TM 2149/FL060/TP E545/RM LLWS +/- 5 KT FAP RWY 17L
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- 2 nm north (350°) of APA
- Time
- 21:49 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L
- 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
- CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 38 nm south, 4:02 pm MDT (22:02 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb from KDEN from 12,000 ft to 19,000 ft ZDVWC-41. 10 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK262015/TM 2202/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB MOD CHOP/RM DURC FROM KDEN 120-190 ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm west (262°) of BRK
- Time
- 22:02 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- during the climb from KDEN from 12,000 ft to 19,000 ft ZDVWC-41
- C700 at 16,000 ft, 1 nm east, 3:55 pm MDT (21:55 UTC): moderate turbulence. 86 nm along the route, 1 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV WERNR/TM 2155/FL160/TP C700/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- wernr
- Time
- 21:55 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C700
- Turbulence
- moderate
- C650 at 40,000 ft, 6 nm south, 5:48 pm MDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 95 nm along the route, 6 nm south 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, 20 nm south, 4:59 pm MDT (22:59 UTC): moderate turbulence, scattered clouds above 16,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 95 nm along the route, 20 nm south 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 at 36,000 ft, 6 nm south, 3:28 pm MDT (21:28 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 95 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2128/FL360/TP B737/TB MOD/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- over DBL
- Time
- 21:28 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- LJ40 at 19,000 ft, 23 nm south, 3:32 pm MDT (21:32 UTC): moderate turbulence. 105 nm along the route, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV ASE240010/TM 2132/FL190/TP LJ40/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- 10 nm southwest (240°) of ASE
- Time
- 21:32 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ40
- Turbulence
- moderate
- C680 at 18,000 ft, 29 nm south, 4:35 pm MDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft. 114 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV ASE230020/TM 2235/FL180/TP C680/TB MOD/RM 180-100
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- 20 nm southwest (230°) of ASE
- Time
- 22:35 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C680
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft
- E170 at 10,000 ft, 46 nm southwest, 5:41 pm MDT (23:41 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT144009/TM 2341/FL100/TP E170/TB MOD SFC-100/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- 9 nm southeast (144°) of GJT
- Time
- 23:41 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- moderate from the surface to 10,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- 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 descending, 17 nm northeast, 4:29 pm MDT (22:29 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 2229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
16 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 2 forecast points nearest it (DEN, 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 | 200° at 33 kt | +10 kt | 15 °C | 110 kt | 1 h 13 min | 7:21 pm MDT (01:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 200° at 34 kt | +14 kt | 11 °C | 106 kt | 1 h 15 min | 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 37 kt | +20 kt | 5 °C | 100 kt | 1 h 20 min | 7:28 pm MDT (01:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | +25 kt | 0 °C | 95 kt | 1 h 24 min | 7:32 pm MDT (01:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 43 kt | +31 kt | -5 °C | 89 kt | 1 h 30 min | 7:38 pm MDT (01:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 45 kt | +35 kt | -9 °C | 85 kt | 1 h 34 min | 7:42 pm MDT (01:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 52 kt | +36 kt | -21 °C | 84 kt | 1 h 35 min | 7:43 pm MDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 56 kt | +46 kt | -31 °C | 74 kt | 1 h 48 min | 7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 63 kt | +57 kt | -37 °C | 63 kt | 2 h 07 min | 8:15 pm MDT (02:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 62 kt | +58 kt | -47 °C | 62 kt | 2 h 09 min | 8:17 pm MDT (02:17 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; 36 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° | ||
| GJT | used from 95 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA Denver, CO | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 22 knots, gusting to 33 | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 5,884 ft | 5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC) |
| LXV Leadville, CO | 67 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 9,933 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| EGE Eagle, CO | 95 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,547 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| RIL Rifle, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (270°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,536 ft | 6:05 pm MDT (00:05 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 RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:21 pm MDT (01:21 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 26, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet VFR
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 marginal VFR
The whole forecast for RIL
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 26, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 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 at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for APA, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet and more above
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, 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 RIL 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is after sunset there (6:38 pm MDT (00:38 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, Rifle Garfield County.