The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 2:28 am EDT (06:28 UTC)

Charlotte/Douglas International to Denver International CLT → DEN

1,160 nautical miles (1,334 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC). Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29. 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: 5,504 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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. Over the first 100 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 120 nm out.
  • 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 80 to 330 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 200 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 610 to 1070 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 90 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 CLT.

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

  • A20N at 25,000 ft, 45 nm west, 2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. At the destination end, 45 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
    Report
    a routine report filed through DEN
    Where
    45 nm west (250°) of DEN
    Time
    06:19 UTC
    Height
    at 25,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A20N
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb ZDVWC-06
  • B738 descending, 3 nm south, 2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through DEN
    Where
    over DEN
    Time
    06:15 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    B738
    Turbulence
    light chop

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 11 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TYS, BNA, EVV, CGI, STL, COU, MKC, SLN, GLD, DEN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft250° at 24 kt+20 kt100 kt11 h 36 min12:04 pm MDT (18:04 UTC)
6,500 ft260° at 21 kt+20 kt15 °C100 kt11 h 36 min12:04 pm MDT (18:04 UTC)
8,500 ft260° at 19 kt+19 kt12 °C101 kt11 h 29 min11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC)
10,500 ft270° at 16 kt+17 kt9 °C103 kt11 h 16 min11:44 am MDT (17:44 UTC)
12,500 ft280° at 15 kt+16 kt5 °C104 kt11 h 09 min11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC)
14,500 ft280° at 17 kt+18 kt1 °C102 kt11 h 22 min11:50 am MDT (17:50 UTC)
16,500 ft280° at 19 kt+20 kt-3 °C100 kt11 h 36 min12:04 pm MDT (18:04 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180280° at 21 kt+22 kt-7 °C98 kt11 h 50 min12:18 pm MDT (18:18 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240270° at 24 kt+24 kt-19 °C96 kt12 h 05 min12:33 pm MDT (18:33 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300270° at 39 kt+40 kt-32 °C80 kt14 h 30 min2:58 pm MDT (20:58 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340280° at 46 kt+48 kt-39 °C72 kt16 h 07 min4:35 pm MDT (22:35 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390290° at 43 kt+45 kt-49 °C75 kt15 h 28 min3:56 pm MDT (21:56 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
GSPused from 0 nm out; 48 nm from the line320/22340/19 13°320/18 8°310/24 5°300/34 -7°300/36 -18°290/30 -33°300/32 -39°320/42 -49°
TYSused from 100 nm out; 32 nm from the line320/20340/18 11°340/32 9°340/36 4°330/37 -7°330/38 -19°330/50 -34°330/53 -38°330/44 -48°
BNAused from 200 nm out; 70 nm from the line310/20340/20 17°330/24 10°340/22 5°330/26 -6°340/29 -18°330/52 -33°320/62 -41°340/45 -50°
EVVused from 350 nm out; 60 nm from the line280/15290/12 17°310/16 10°320/13 5°310/22 -6°320/26 -18°320/38 -33°310/56 -41°320/55 -51°
CGIused from 400 nm out; 20 nm from the line240/20270/15 15°280/15 11°300/13 6°290/20 -6°280/24 -18°300/34 -32°300/47 -41°310/49 -51°
STLused from 500 nm out; 67 nm from the line250/24250/24 16°260/23 9°270/16 6°260/25 -6°270/29 -19°290/34 -33°290/48 -41°290/54 -51°
COUused from 550 nm out; 43 nm from the line230/31230/30 15°260/16 11°270/14 6°260/24 -6°270/27 -18°270/37 -32°280/49 -41°290/56 -51°
MKCused from 650 nm out; 38 nm from the line220/44250/28 18°250/18 13°240/12 6°280/24 -6°240/34 -18°260/47 -30°260/51 -40°270/58 -50°
SLNused from 750 nm out; 55 nm from the line210/53230/41 20°240/26 14°230/16 8°240/25 -7°240/35 -19°250/61 -30°260/65 -38°260/56 -49°
GLDused from 900 nm out; 95 nm from the line230/49230/42 15°220/26 8°240/18 -7°230/27 -21°240/62 -30°240/61 -35°250/57 -47°
DENused from 1100 nm out; 35 nm from the line240/21 14°250/44 6°220/49 -8°220/49 -21°230/54 -30°240/57 -35°240/49 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
CLT Charlotte, NC departure VFR from the west (260°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 747 ft 1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC)
AVL Asheville, NC 80 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet variable at 6 knots 10+ mi 2,600 ft 2,163 ft 05:54 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN 150 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 2,800 ft 986 ft 06:01 UTC
TZV Tompkinsville, KY 250 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line no report just now 1,036 ft
PAH Paducah, KY 390 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 410 ft 00:00 UTC
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO 560 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 1,159 ft 05:55 UTC
GLY Clinton, MO 640 nm out, 1 nm south of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 822 ft 06:15 UTC
FOE Topeka, KS 740 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 14 knots 10+ mi none 1,077 ft 05:53 UTC
SLN Salina, KS 830 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 32 10+ mi none 1,288 ft 05:53 UTC
CBK Colby, KS 990 nm out, 4 nm south of the line VFR from the south (190°) at 19 knots, gusting to 29 10+ mi none 3,188 ft 06:15 UTC
ITR Burlington, CO 1050 nm out, 24 nm south of the line VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots 10+ mi none 4,218 ft 05:53 UTC
DEN Denver, CO destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29 10+ mi none 5,433 ft 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for DEN
  • From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
The forecast for CLT, the departure
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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 Southeast
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Denver International.