Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field to Tucson International ASE → TUS
470 nautical miles (541 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 206°, about 197° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 31-knot headwind), arriving about 5:13 am MST (12:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ASE is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 4 knots; TUS is VFR, wind calm. 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
- 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 88 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 108 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 363 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 108 to 343 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 353 to 402 nm out.
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 E75L at 9,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 10:30 pm MDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. At the departure end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
- Report
- an urgent report filed through ASE
- Where
- over ASE
- Time
- 04:30 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
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 4 forecast points nearest it (GJT, FMN, PHX, TUS). 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 | 210° at 31 kt | +31 kt | 8 °C | 89 kt | 5 h 17 min | 5:13 am MST (12:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 35 kt | +35 kt | 5 °C | 85 kt | 5 h 32 min | 5:28 am MST (12:28 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +40 kt | 1 °C | 80 kt | 5 h 52 min | 5:48 am MST (12:48 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 45 kt | +44 kt | -3 °C | 76 kt | 6 h 11 min | 6:07 am MST (13:07 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -6 °C | 72 kt | 6 h 32 min | 6:28 am MST (13:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 53 kt | +51 kt | -10 °C | 69 kt | 6 h 49 min | 6:45 am MST (13:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 63 kt | +61 kt | -21 °C | 59 kt | 7 h 58 min | 7:54 am MST (14:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 76 kt | +71 kt | -27 °C | 49 kt | 9 h 36 min | 9:32 am MST (16:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 83 kt | +73 kt | -34 °C | 47 kt | 10 h | 9:56 am MST (16:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 71 kt | +65 kt | -46 °C | 55 kt | 8 h 33 min | 8:29 am MST (15:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT | used from 0 nm out; 68 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 98 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| PHX | used from 294 nm out; 130 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| TUS | used from 392 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° |
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 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
| GUC Gunnison, CO | 39 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,679 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 88 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 9,069 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| DRO Durango, CO | 127 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 6,689 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 167 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 235 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,742 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GUP Gallup, NM | 245 nm out, 14 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,472 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SJN St Johns, AZ | 304 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,736 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 333 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| TUS Tucson, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 2,643 ft | 11:53 pm MST (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TUS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:13 am MST (12:13 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TUS
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MST (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
The forecast for ASE, the departure
- 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
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 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC), at TUS 5:55 pm MST (00:55 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:19 pm MST (01:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TUS is before sunrise there (6:25 am MST (13:25 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: Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field, Tucson International.