Denver International to Kansas City International DEN → MCI
462 nautical miles (532 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 73-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:32 am CDT (16:32 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots; MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25. 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: 8,655 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 first 98 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of 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 last 177 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 DEN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 19 nm southwest, 6:54 am MDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. At the departure end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:54 UTC
- Height
- at 6,700 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
- urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 19 nm southwest, 6:40 am MDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. At the departure end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:40 UTC
- Height
- at 6,800 ft
- Aircraft
- FA7X
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
- urgent TBM7 at 100 ft, 20 nm southwest, 6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. At the departure end, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV APA140001/TM 1230/FL001/TP TBM7/TB LGT CHOP/RM LLWS +-10KTS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- 1 nm southeast (140°) of APA
- Time
- 12:30 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM7
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed
- urgent B763 at 2,000 ft, 26 nm south, 5:57 am MDT (11:57 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 423 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOE UUA /OV 130003/TM 1157/FL020/TP B763/WV LLWS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through FOE
- Where
- wind from 130° at 3 knots
- Time
- 11:57 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Wind
- low-level wind shear
- B738 descending, 37 nm northwest, 7:01 am MDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the departure end, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40NW den
- Time
- 13:01 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
- B738 descending, 41 nm southwest, 6:55 am MDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the departure end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40SW den
- Time
- 12:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- C172 at 200 ft, 18 nm southwest, 6:35 am MDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. At the departure end, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA350001/TM 1235/FL002/TP C172/TB MOD TURB/RM LLWS +-15KTS
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 1 nm north (350°) of APA
- Time
- 12:35 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- moderate turbulence
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed
- B737 at 16,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN320040/TM 1223/FL160/TP B737/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
- Time
- 12:23 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- C172 at 7,800 ft, 24 nm south, 7:57 am MDT (13:57 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the departure end, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA150006/TM 1357/FL078/TP C172/TB LGT-MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 6 nm southeast (150°) of APA
- Time
- 13:57 UTC
- Height
- at 7,800 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 17 nm north, 7:50 am MDT (13:50 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: from the surface to 18,000 ft. At the departure end, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN350020/TM 1350/FL180/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM SFC-180
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 20 nm north (350°) of DEN
- Time
- 13:50 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- from the surface to 18,000 ft
- CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 3 nm south, 7:30 am MDT (13:30 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 5N/TM 1330/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 5N
- Time
- 13:30 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
- B737 descending, 26 nm southwest, 7:26 am MDT (13:26 UTC): light chop turbulence from 16,000 ft to 23,000 ft, wind 235° at 53 knots. At the departure end, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 25SW DEN/TM 1326/FLDURD/TP B737/WV 235/53/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 230-160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25SW den
- Time
- 13:26 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Wind
- 235/53
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop from 23,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- B738 at 5,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV KDEN/TM 1228/FLSFC/TP B738/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over KDEN
- Time
- 12:28 UTC
- Height
- at the surface
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- none
- B737 at 17,000 ft, 38 nm south, 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, vfr; clear up to 60,000 ft, remarks: not bad for denver. At the departure end, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN170035/TM 1224/FL170/TP B737/SK VFR/WX SKC/TA UNK/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM NOT BAD FOR DENVER
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 35 nm south (170°) of DEN
- Time
- 12:24 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- vfr
- Weather
- clear sky
- Temperature
- UNK
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- not bad for denver
3 more routine reports are on the map.
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, SLN, MKC). 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 | 250° at 36 kt | −33 kt | 153 kt | 3 h 01 min | 12:09 pm CDT (17:09 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | −26 kt | 16 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 10 min | 12:18 pm CDT (17:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −20 kt | 13 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 18 min | 12:26 pm CDT (17:26 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 8 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 21 min | 12:29 pm CDT (17:29 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −20 kt | 3 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 18 min | 12:26 pm CDT (17:26 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | −24 kt | -2 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 12 min | 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 35 kt | −28 kt | -7 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 07 min | 12:15 pm CDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 36 kt | −29 kt | -8 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 06 min | 12:14 pm CDT (17:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 45 kt | −35 kt | -21 °C | 155 kt | 2 h 59 min | 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 70 kt | −66 kt | -30 °C | 186 kt | 2 h 29 min | 11:37 am CDT (16:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 74 kt | −73 kt | -36 °C | 193 kt | 2 h 24 min | 11:32 am CDT (16:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 67 kt | −65 kt | -48 °C | 185 kt | 2 h 30 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GLD | used from 49 nm out; 69 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° | |
| SLN | used from 246 nm out; 74 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° |
| MKC | used from 393 nm out; 52 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° |
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 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| AKO Akron, CO | 69 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 138 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 167 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 187 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 246 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 2 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| TKO Mankato, KS | 295 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,859 ft | ||||
| CNK Concordia, KS | 324 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 373 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 423 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| MCI Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 1,027 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MCI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:32 am CDT (16:32 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MCI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- 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 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- 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 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 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 MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 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, Kansas City International.
