Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International to Yampa Valley Airport ATL → HDN
1,163 nautical miles (1,338 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 297°, about 302° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC). Right now ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots; HDN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 193 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 79 to 139 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 route from 497 to 954 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 199 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 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 0 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 ATL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (ATL, HSV, MEM, SGF, ICT, SLN, GCK, GLD, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | +17 kt | 21 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 17 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +18 kt | 16 °C | 102 kt | 11 h 24 min | 11:07 am MDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 13 °C | 102 kt | 11 h 24 min | 11:07 am MDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 11 h 24 min | 11:07 am MDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 17 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 17 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +17 kt | -3 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 17 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 21 kt | +17 kt | -7 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 17 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 25 kt | +22 kt | -19 °C | 98 kt | 11 h 52 min | 11:35 am MDT (17:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 43 kt | +41 kt | -31 °C | 79 kt | 14 h 43 min | 2:26 pm MDT (20:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 46 kt | +46 kt | -38 °C | 74 kt | 15 h 43 min | 3:26 pm MDT (21:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 41 kt | +42 kt | -49 °C | 78 kt | 14 h 55 min | 2:38 pm MDT (20:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| HSV | used from 50 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| MEM | used from 199 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| SGF | used from 397 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| ICT | used from 596 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| SLN | used from 696 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 795 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| GLD | used from 845 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| DEN | used from 994 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GJT | used from 1143 nm out; 106 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL Atlanta, GA | departure | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC) |
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 20 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 04:50 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 129 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 248 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ARG Walnut Ridge, AR | 358 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 279 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| JLN Joplin, MO | 537 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 977 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CNU Chanute, KS | 586 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,002 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 705 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| OEL Oakley, KS | 855 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 3,045 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | 1043 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| BJC Denver, CO | 1063 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,673 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| HDN Hayden, CO | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 6,606 ft | 10:56 pm MDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,606 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HDN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC)
Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for HDN
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,600 feet
The forecast for ATL, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, 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 ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC), at HDN 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 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: Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International, Yampa Valley Airport.