Cavern City Air Trml Airport to Colorado Plains Regional CNM → AKO
473 nautical miles (545 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 006°, about 356° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:32 pm MDT (05:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CNM is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19; AKO is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 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: 2 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 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 266 to 325 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO NM FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 138 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 177 to 454 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). Near the route, 296 nm along 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 CNM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A21N at 32,000 ft, 28 nm west, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. At the destination end, 28 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
- Report
- a routine report filed through AKO
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of AKO
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- intermittent moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-61
- A21N at 31,000 ft, 44 nm west, 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC): remarks: mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29. 355 nm along the route, 44 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB/TM 0024/FL310/TP A21N/RM MTN WAVE +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- over PUB
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Remarks
- mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
- A320 at 8,000 ft, 34 nm west, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 454 nm along the route, 34 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
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 (ROW, TCC, PUB, DEN). 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 | 200° at 38 kt | −36 kt | 156 kt | 3 h 02 min | 11:39 pm MDT (05:39 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 36 kt | −34 kt | 154 kt | 3 h 04 min | 11:41 pm MDT (05:41 UTC) | |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −21 kt | 13 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 21 min | 11:58 pm MDT (05:58 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −21 kt | 10 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 21 min | 11:58 pm MDT (05:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −23 kt | 5 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 18 min | 11:55 pm MDT (05:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | −27 kt | 1 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 13 min | 11:50 pm MDT (05:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | −30 kt | -3 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 09 min | 11:46 pm MDT (05:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | −33 kt | -7 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 05 min | 11:42 pm MDT (05:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 50 kt | −37 kt | -19 °C | 157 kt | 3 h 01 min | 11:38 pm MDT (05:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 66 kt | −42 kt | -28 °C | 162 kt | 2 h 55 min | 11:32 pm MDT (05:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 62 kt | −32 kt | -35 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 07 min | 11:44 pm MDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 54 kt | −26 kt | -47 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 14 min | 11:51 pm MDT (05:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROW | used from 0 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 99 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 247 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| DEN | used from 394 nm out; 70 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNM Carlsbad, NM | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 3,294 ft | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
| ATS Artesia, NM | 30 nm out, 13 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,544 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 59 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,671 ft | 01:51 UTC |
| FSU Fort Sumner, NM | 128 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | no report just now | 4,164 ft | ||||
| TCC Tucumcari, NM | 177 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,064 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| LHX La Junta, CO | 345 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,228 ft | 15:53 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 414 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,374 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AKO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:32 pm MDT (05:32 UTC)
AKO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for CNM, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast 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 CNM 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC), at AKO 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AKO is before sunrise there (7:00 am MDT (13:00 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: Cavern City Air Trml Airport, Colorado Plains Regional.