City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Albuquerque International Sunport COS → ABQ
244 nautical miles (281 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 203°, about 195° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 6:09 am MDT (12:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 knots; ABQ is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 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: 7 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 215 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). Near the route, 59 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 127 to 146 nm out.
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 COS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 22,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 2:14 am MDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the departure end, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 08:14 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- A21N at 33,000 ft, 9 nm north, 12:59 am MDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the departure end, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- over BRK
- Time
- 06:59 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
- B38M at 37,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 1:42 am MDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. 29 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 55 nm west (280°) of PUB
- Time
- 07:42 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
- A320 at 31,000 ft, 13 nm west, 12:58 am MDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 39 nm along the route, 13 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 40 nm west (260°) of PUB
- Time
- 06:58 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
- GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 48 nm northwest, 1:47 am MDT (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 68 nm along the route, 48 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 46 nm east (105°) of HBU
- Time
- 07:47 UTC
- Height
- at 47,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF6
- Remarks
- moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
- A333 at 38,000 ft, 9 nm east, 2:23 am MDT (08:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 98 nm along the route, 9 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS085025/TM 0823/FL380/TP A333/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 25 nm east (085°) of ALS
- Time
- 08:23 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
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 3 forecast points nearest it (PUB, ALS, ABQ). 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 | 240° at 26 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 26 min | 6:09 am MDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | +27 kt | 5 °C | 93 kt | 2 h 37 min | 6:20 am MDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +32 kt | 3 °C | 88 kt | 2 h 46 min | 6:29 am MDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -2 °C | 83 kt | 2 h 56 min | 6:39 am MDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 47 kt | +41 kt | -5 °C | 79 kt | 3 h 05 min | 6:48 am MDT (12:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 51 kt | +45 kt | -8 °C | 75 kt | 3 h 15 min | 6:58 am MDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 62 kt | +50 kt | -19 °C | 70 kt | 3 h 29 min | 7:12 am MDT (13:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 82 kt | +71 kt | -27 °C | 49 kt | 4 h 59 min | 8:42 am MDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 85 kt | +71 kt | -35 °C | 49 kt | 4 h 59 min | 8:42 am MDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 74 kt | +60 kt | -48 °C | 60 kt | 4 h 04 min | 7:47 am MDT (13:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUB | used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 49 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| ABQ | used from 146 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 2:54 am MDT (08:54 UTC) |
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 29 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,729 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ALS Alamosa, CO | 98 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,539 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| SKX Taos, NM | 146 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| LAM Los Alamos, NM | 195 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 7,170 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 205 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 2:52 am MDT (08:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,539 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:09 am MDT (12:09 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ABQ
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for COS, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 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 COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC), at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABQ is before sunrise there (7:09 am MDT (13:09 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: City Of Colorado Springs Municipal, Albuquerque International Sunport.