Plan a flight · Sun 7:38 pm MDT (01:38 UTC)

City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Louisville Muhammad Ali International COS → SDF

890 nautical miles (1,025 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 078° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now COS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25; SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 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: 5 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 from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 30 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC). Over the first 30 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

GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 20 nm north, 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS340020/TM 0048/FL400/TP GLF6/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
20 nm north (340°) of COS
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
B737 at 25,000 ft, 11 nm west, 6:29 pm MDT (00:29 UTC): light rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-29. At the departure end, 11 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK242015/TM 0029/FL250/TP B737/SK TOP280/TA 00/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC ZDVWC-29
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm southwest (242°) of BRK
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
TOP280
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-29
CL35 at 43,000 ft, 47 nm southwest, 6:21 pm MDT (00:21 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-300FT zdvwc. At the departure end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0021/FL430/TP CL35/RM MTW +/-300FT ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (250°) of PUB
Time
00:21 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Remarks
mtw +/-300FT zdvwc
B737 at 14,000 ft, 36 nm north, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. At the departure end, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm south (170°) of DEN
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
A21N at 31,000 ft, 31 nm south, 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC): remarks: mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29. At the departure end, 31 nm south 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
B38M at 23,700 ft, 39 nm north, 5:51 pm MDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 811 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light

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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (PUB, GLD, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU, STL, EVV, LOU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	210° at 18 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	6 h 54 min	4:32 am EDT (08:32 UTC)
5,500 ft	220° at 20 kt	−13 kt	21 °C	133 kt	6 h 42 min	4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−17 kt	14 °C	137 kt	6 h 30 min	4:08 am EDT (08:08 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	6 h 21 min	3:59 am EDT (07:59 UTC)
11,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	−21 kt	8 °C	141 kt	6 h 19 min	3:57 am EDT (07:57 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 22 kt	−23 kt	3 °C	143 kt	6 h 13 min	3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 23 kt	−24 kt	-2 °C	144 kt	6 h 11 min	3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 24 kt	−25 kt	-6 °C	145 kt	6 h 08 min	3:46 am EDT (07:46 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 24 kt	−25 kt	-7 °C	145 kt	6 h 08 min	3:46 am EDT (07:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 23 kt	−24 kt	-18 °C	144 kt	6 h 11 min	3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 38 kt	−40 kt	-32 °C	160 kt	5 h 34 min	3:12 am EDT (07:12 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 44 kt	−46 kt	-40 °C	166 kt	5 h 22 min	3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 47 kt	−48 kt	-50 °C	168 kt	5 h 18 min	2:56 am EDT (06:56 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
PUB	used from 0 nm out; 36 nm from the line			210/24 16°	210/28 8°	230/43 -8°	240/42 -21°	240/77 -30°	240/72 -36°	250/51 -47°
GLD	used from 49 nm out; 73 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°
GCK	used from 198 nm out; 71 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°
SLN	used from 247 nm out; 58 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°
MKC	used from 396 nm out; 54 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°
COU	used from 544 nm out; 15 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°
STL	used from 643 nm out; 8 nm from the line	210/13	260/16 17°	270/21 10°	280/24 5°	310/20 -7°	320/22 -18°	320/44 -33°	320/59 -43°	310/69 -51°
EVV	used from 742 nm out; 45 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
LOU	used from 841 nm out; 28 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°

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: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 17,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	10,000 ft	6,187 ft	6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC)
OEL Oakley, KS	178 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	3,045 ft	23:35 UTC
HYS Hays, KS	257 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	1,999 ft	00:56 UTC
SLN Salina, KS	326 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,288 ft	00:53 UTC
FOE Topeka, KS	425 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,077 ft	00:53 UTC
OJC Olathe, KS	465 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,096 ft	00:53 UTC
COU Columbia, MO	584 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	00:54 UTC
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL	683 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	412 ft	00:53 UTC
ENL Centralia, IL	732 nm out, 1 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	534 ft	01:15 UTC
EVV Evansville, IN	811 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	421 ft	00:54 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for COS, the departure

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 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

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 23 nm from the route, 584 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: City Of Colorado Springs Municipal, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.