Charlotte/Douglas International to Rifle Garfield County CLT → RIL
1,299 nautical miles (1,494 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 289°, about 296° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 6:03 am MDT (12:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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
- SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 50 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 110 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 210 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 240 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 300 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 210 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 70 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 50 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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TYS, BNA, CGI, COU, SGF, MKC, 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 | 230° at 16 kt | +11 kt | 21 °C | 109 kt | 11 h 55 min | 6:03 am MDT (12:03 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +15 kt | 15 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 22 min | 6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 12 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 37 min | 6:45 am MDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 9 °C | 100 kt | 12 h 59 min | 7:07 am MDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | +23 kt | 5 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 24 min | 7:32 am MDT (13:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 23 kt | +25 kt | 1 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 40 min | 7:48 am MDT (13:48 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 25 kt | +26 kt | -4 °C | 94 kt | 13 h 49 min | 7:57 am MDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 26 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 13 h 58 min | 8:06 am MDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -19 °C | 93 kt | 13 h 58 min | 8:06 am MDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 38 kt | +39 kt | -32 °C | 81 kt | 16 h 02 min | 10:10 am MDT (16:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 43 kt | +44 kt | -40 °C | 76 kt | 17 h 06 min | 11:14 am MDT (17:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 45 kt | +45 kt | -49 °C | 75 kt | 17 h 19 min | 11:27 am MDT (17:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP | used from 0 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| TYS | used from 100 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| BNA | used from 200 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| CGI | used from 350 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 250/10 | 290/12 17° | 290/18 11° | 300/22 5° | 320/25 -8° | 330/30 -18° | 320/53 -33° | 320/66 -42° | 320/56 -50° |
| COU | used from 499 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| SGF | used from 599 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 210/21 | 210/21 16° | 240/28 12° | 260/24 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/26 -18° | 290/38 -31° | 290/37 -41° | 300/49 -52° |
| MKC | used from 649 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SLN | used from 749 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GCK | used from 899 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| GLD | used from 949 nm out; 48 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° | |
| DEN | used from 1099 nm out; 46 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° | ||
| GJT | used from 1249 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte, NC | departure | no report just now | 747 ft | ||||
| AVL Asheville, NC | 80 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,163 ft | ||||
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 150 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 986 ft | ||||
| HVC Hopkinsville, KY | 330 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 563 ft | ||||
| PAH Paducah, KY | 400 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 410 ft | ||||
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 559 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,159 ft | ||||
| BUM Butler, MO | 669 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 893 ft | ||||
| SLN Salina, KS | 829 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,288 ft | ||||
| OEL Oakley, KS | 979 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,045 ft | ||||
| LIC Limon, CO | 1109 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,374 ft | ||||
| EGE Eagle, CO | 1259 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,547 ft | ||||
| RIL Rifle, CO | destination | no report just now | 5,536 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,547 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:03 am MDT (12:03 UTC)
RIL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 20 nm from the route, 290 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, 1169 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 24 nm from the route, 1189 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at RIL 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Rifle Garfield County.
