Columbia Regional to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal COU → COS
584 nautical miles (672 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 274°, about 274° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 21-knot headwind), arriving about 10:53 am MDT (16:53 UTC). Right now COU is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22. 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
- 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 first 396 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 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 10 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 COU.
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, 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination 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
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 6 forecast points nearest it (COU, MKC, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB). 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 | 240° at 37 kt | +33 kt | 22 °C | 87 kt | 6 h 43 min | 11:42 am MDT (17:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | +26 kt | 19 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 13 min | 11:12 am MDT (17:12 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +24 kt | 14 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 05 min | 11:04 am MDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +21 kt | 10 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 54 min | 10:53 am MDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +21 kt | 6 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 54 min | 10:53 am MDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | +24 kt | 1 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 05 min | 11:04 am MDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | +28 kt | -4 °C | 92 kt | 6 h 21 min | 11:20 am MDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 34 kt | +30 kt | -8 °C | 90 kt | 6 h 29 min | 11:28 am MDT (17:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 43 kt | +37 kt | -20 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 02 min | 12:01 pm MDT (18:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 69 kt | +68 kt | -30 °C | 52 kt | 11 h 14 min | 4:13 pm MDT (22:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 71 kt | +71 kt | -37 °C | 49 kt | 11 h 55 min | 4:54 pm MDT (22:54 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 63 kt | +64 kt | -48 °C | 56 kt | 10 h 26 min | 3:25 pm MDT (21:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKC | used from 49 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SLN | used from 198 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| GCK | used from 346 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| GLD | used from 396 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 495 nm out; 65 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COU Columbia, MO | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC) |
| VER Boonville, MO | 20 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 715 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| MKC Kansas City, MO | 109 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| FOE Topeka, KS | 158 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 208 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 257 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RSL Russell, KS | 307 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,863 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| OEL Oakley, KS | 406 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,045 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| ITR Burlington, CO | 465 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,218 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 4:54 am MDT (10:54 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 COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:53 am MDT (16:53 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for COS
- 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
The forecast for COU, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC), at COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 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: Columbia Regional, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.