Plan a flight · Sun 6:14 pm MDT (00:14 UTC)

Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field to Chicago Midway International ASE → MDW

884 nautical miles (1,018 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 074°, about 065° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 55-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:17 am CDT (05:17 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ASE is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 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: 16 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 first 20 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 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 first 10 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 209 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 129 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 30 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 ASE.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

urgent E545 at 6,000 ft, 4 nm southwest, 3:49 pm MDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. 99 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest 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
C650 at 40,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:48 pm MDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the departure 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 departure 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
C680 at 18,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 4:35 pm MDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm southwest 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
LJ40 at 19,000 ft, 10 nm west, 3:32 pm MDT (21:32 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 10 nm west 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
B737 at 36,000 ft, 13 nm north, 3:28 pm MDT (21:28 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the departure end, 13 nm north 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
C700 at 16,000 ft, 17 nm north, 3:55 pm MDT (21:55 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 17 nm north 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
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 40 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. 79 nm along the route, 40 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
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 27 nm south, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 99 nm along the route, 27 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
A21N at 32,000 ft, 24 nm north, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 149 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:31 pm MDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 159 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B38M at 32,000 ft, 49 nm northwest, 5:32 pm MDT (23:32 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZDVWC-04. At the departure end, 49 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR146023/TM 2332/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT /IC NEG/RM ZDVWC-04
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
23 nm southeast (146°) of EKR
Time
23:32 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light
Icing
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-04
C680A at 14,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:02 pm MDT (23:02 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the departure end, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2302/FL140/TP C680A/TB LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
23:02 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
C680A
Turbulence
light occasional moderate chop
UAL2862 at 34,000 ft, 13 nm west, 4:39 pm MDT (22:39 UTC): no turbulence, wind 238° at 63 knots. At the departure end, 13 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2862 3911N 10708W 2239 F340 238/063KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
5,500 ft	220° at 24 kt	−19 kt	19 °C	139 kt	6 h 22 min	1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	−18 kt	15 °C	138 kt	6 h 24 min	1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	−18 kt	12 °C	138 kt	6 h 24 min	1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	−18 kt	7 °C	138 kt	6 h 24 min	1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 20 kt	−20 kt	3 °C	140 kt	6 h 19 min	1:33 am CDT (06:33 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	−23 kt	-2 °C	143 kt	6 h 11 min	1:25 am CDT (06:25 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-6 °C	146 kt	6 h 03 min	1:17 am CDT (06:17 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 26 kt	−27 kt	-7 °C	147 kt	6 h 01 min	1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 29 kt	−30 kt	-19 °C	150 kt	5 h 54 min	1:08 am CDT (06:08 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 37 kt	−38 kt	-33 °C	158 kt	5 h 36 min	12:50 am CDT (05:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 47 kt	−48 kt	-41 °C	168 kt	5 h 16 min	12:30 am CDT (05:30 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 56 kt	−55 kt	-50 °C	175 kt	5 h 03 min	12:17 am CDT (05:17 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; 84 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°
GLD	used from 199 nm out; 53 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
GRI	used from 298 nm out; 84 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
OMA	used from 447 nm out; 47 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
DSM	used from 546 nm out; 49 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
BRL	used from 695 nm out; 48 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DBQ	used from 745 nm out; 50 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
JOT	used from 795 nm out; 47 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -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
ASE Aspen, CO	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,500 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	7,837 ft	5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC)
LXV Leadville, CO	20 nm out, 9 nm southeast 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
CFO Denver, CO	109 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	23:47 UTC
RYA Wray, CO	219 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				3,677 ft
CSB Cambridge, NE	318 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	9 mi	none	2,414 ft	23:55 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	407 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	23:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	477 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	23:54 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	616 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	23:54 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	705 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	869 ft	21:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	755 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	23:52 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	854 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	23:52 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 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 MDW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:17 am CDT (05:17 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for MDW

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for ASE, the departure

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

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 ASE 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC), at MDW 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is before sunrise there (6:59 am CDT (11:59 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field, Chicago Midway International.