City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Hector International COS → FAR
597 nautical miles (688 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 033°, about 025° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 41-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:53 am CDT (08:53 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: 3 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 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 0 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 119 nm of the route.
- 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 139 to 299 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 339 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 COS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B407 at 10,000 ft, 10 nm west, 8:13 pm MDT (02:13 UTC): moderate to severe turbulence. At the departure end, 10 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UUA /OV 10 W COS/TM 0213/FL100/TP B407/TB MDT-SEV
- Report
- an urgent report filed through COS
- Where
- 10 west cos
- Time
- 02:13 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B407
- Turbulence
- mdt-sev
- BE9L at 24,500 ft, 47 nm southwest, 8:21 pm MDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. At the departure end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 40 nm west (250°) of PUB
- Time
- 02:21 UTC
- Height
- at 24,500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-41
- CL60 at 33,000 ft, 11 nm southeast, 8:35 pm MDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. At the departure end, 11 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK080015/TM 0235/FL330/TP CL60/RM MTW +/-100FT ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm east (080°) of BRK
- Time
- 02:35 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Remarks
- mtw +/-100FT zdvwc
- A320 descending, 31 nm northwest, 9:19 pm MDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 03:19 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 descending, 31 nm northwest, 8:29 pm MDT (02:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 02:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- PC12 at 2,800 ft, 5 nm southeast, 8:37 pm MDT (02:37 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 2,900 ft, 10 °C. At the destination end, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 0237/FL028/TP PC12/SK OVC012-TOP029/TA 10
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over FAR
- Time
- 02:37 UTC
- Height
- at 2,800 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 2,900 ft
- Temperature
- 10 °C
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (DEN, BFF, PIR, ABR, GFK). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 180° at 17 kt | −13 kt | 19 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 29 min | 4:40 am CDT (09:40 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 14 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 20 min | 4:31 am CDT (09:31 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 12 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 12 min | 4:23 am CDT (09:23 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −28 kt | 7 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 02 min | 4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −30 kt | 2 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 59 min | 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −31 kt | -3 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 57 min | 4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −32 kt | -8 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 56 min | 4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 34 kt | −32 kt | -9 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 56 min | 4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 39 kt | −37 kt | -21 °C | 157 kt | 3 h 48 min | 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | −36 kt | -34 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 50 min | 4:01 am CDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 46 kt | −39 kt | -39 °C | 159 kt | 3 h 45 min | 3:56 am CDT (08:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 51 kt | −41 kt | -47 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 42 min | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 44 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° | ||
| BFF | used from 149 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 299 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ABR | used from 448 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| GFK | used from 548 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 070/18 | 100/10 9° | 250/11 6° | 250/27 1° | 250/34 -10° | 260/43 -21° | 260/39 -36° | 260/36 -46° | 260/59 -53° |
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 | no report just now | 6,187 ft | ||||
| AKO Akron, CO | 110 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,716 ft | ||||
| STK Sterling, CO | 129 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 4,037 ft | ||||
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 189 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 319 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,724 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 388 nm out, 25 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,744 ft | ||||
| MKA Miller, SD | 428 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,569 ft | ||||
| ABR Aberdeen, SD | 488 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,301 ft | ||||
| GWR Gwinner, ND | 548 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,265 ft | ||||
| FAR Fargo, ND | destination | no report just now | 901 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC)
FAR has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC), at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FAR is before sunrise there (7:40 am CDT (12:40 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, Hector International.