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 4 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 6:32 am MST (13:32 UTC). Right now ASE is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots; TUS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) 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: 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 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the first 343 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 353 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 421 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
- BE20 at 9,000 ft, 17 nm southeast, 1:52 am MDT (07:52 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 127 nm along the route, 17 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0752/FL090/TP BE20/SK BASE110 TOP165/TA M05/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM DURD. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- over DRO
- Time
- 07:52 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- BASE110 TOP165
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Icing
- light to moderate rime
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
- PC12 at 11,000 ft, 17 nm southeast, 12:58 am MDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 127 nm along the route, 17 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- over DRO
- Time
- 06:58 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BASE117
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 24 kt | +23 kt | 6 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 51 min | 6:32 am MST (13:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | +31 kt | 4 °C | 89 kt | 5 h 17 min | 6:58 am MST (13:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | +38 kt | 0 °C | 82 kt | 5 h 44 min | 7:25 am MST (14:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -3 °C | 77 kt | 6 h 06 min | 7:47 am MST (14:47 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 49 kt | +47 kt | -7 °C | 73 kt | 6 h 26 min | 8:07 am MST (15:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 53 kt | +51 kt | -10 °C | 69 kt | 6 h 49 min | 8:30 am MST (15:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 67 kt | +63 kt | -22 °C | 57 kt | 8 h 15 min | 9:56 am MST (16:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 88 kt | +82 kt | -29 °C | 38 kt | 12 h 22 min | 2:03 pm MST (21:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 94 kt | +88 kt | -35 °C | 32 kt | 14 h 41 min | 4:22 pm MST (23:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 86 kt | +81 kt | -46 °C | 39 kt | 12 h 03 min | 1:44 pm MST (20:44 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| FMN | used from 98 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| PHX | used from 294 nm out; 130 nm from the line | 190/15 | 210/25 12° | 200/34 4° | 200/34 2° | 220/58 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/91 -28° | 220/100 -35° | 220/95 -47° |
| TUS | used from 392 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/12 13° | 200/34 7° | 210/41 4° | 230/53 -7° | 220/69 -19° | 220/84 -27° | 220/88 -36° | 220/83 -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 broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 1:53 am MDT (07:53 UTC) |
| GUC Gunnison, CO | 39 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,679 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 88 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,600 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 9,069 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| DRO Durango, CO | 127 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,689 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 167 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 235 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 6,742 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GUP Gallup, NM | 245 nm out, 14 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 6,472 ft | 08:13 UTC |
| SJN St Johns, AZ | 304 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,736 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 333 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (180°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| TUS Tucson, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 2,643 ft | 12:53 am MST (07:53 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, 6:32 am MST (13:32 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 5:53 pm MST (00:53 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:18 pm MST (01:18 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.