Denver International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field DEN → ASE
109 nautical miles (125 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 250°, about 242° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 1:19 am MDT (07:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29; ASE is VFR, wind from the west (260°) 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: 5,224 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 38,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole 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 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 DEN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 10:30 pm MDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
- Report
- an urgent report filed through ASE
- Where
- over ASE
- Time
- 04:30 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
- A320 descending, 3 nm south, 9:19 pm MDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm south 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
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 28 nm south, 11:06 pm MDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 49 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 05:06 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
- BE20 at 16,000 ft, 44 nm northwest, 9:28 pm MDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. At the destination end, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIL
- Where
- over RIL
- Time
- 03:28 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Temperature
- −3 °C
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-11
- B733 at 20,000 ft, 47 nm south, 9:16 pm MDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. At the destination end, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- over HBU
- Time
- 03:16 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B733
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-12
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 2 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GJT). 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 23 kt | +22 kt | 13 °C | 98 kt | 1 h 07 min | 1:19 am MDT (07:19 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | +33 kt | 9 °C | 87 kt | 1 h 15 min | 1:27 am MDT (07:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 44 kt | +44 kt | 5 °C | 76 kt | 1 h 26 min | 1:38 am MDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 45 kt | +43 kt | 0 °C | 77 kt | 1 h 25 min | 1:37 am MDT (07:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 47 kt | +43 kt | -4 °C | 77 kt | 1 h 25 min | 1:37 am MDT (07:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 49 kt | +43 kt | -8 °C | 77 kt | 1 h 25 min | 1:37 am MDT (07:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 50 kt | +44 kt | -21 °C | 76 kt | 1 h 26 min | 1:38 am MDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 54 kt | +51 kt | -30 °C | 69 kt | 1 h 35 min | 1:47 am MDT (07:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 57 kt | +56 kt | -35 °C | 64 kt | 1 h 42 min | 1:54 am MDT (07:54 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -45 °C | 72 kt | 1 h 31 min | 1:43 am MDT (07:43 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; 25 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° | ||
| GJT | used from 99 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
| BJC Denver, CO | 20 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,673 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| LXV Leadville, CO | 89 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 9,933 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,933 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ASE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:19 am MDT (07:19 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 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 DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at ASE 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is before sunrise there (7:14 am MDT (13:14 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: Denver International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.