Plan a flight · Sun 9:24 pm MDT (03:24 UTC)

Denver International to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field DEN → MSN

716 nautical miles (824 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 069°, about 061° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:27 am CDT (07:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 2,186 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. Over the first 109 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 60 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 99 to 567 nm out.

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

B738 at 23,000 ft, 28 nm west, 8:34 pm MDT (02:34 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 28 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0234/FL230/TP B738/TB MOD /RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DVV
Time
02:34 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
GLF4 at 25,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 8:05 pm MDT (02:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV FQF250040/TM 0205/FL250/TP GLF4/TB MOD /RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm west (250°) of FQF
Time
02:05 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
BCS1 at 24,000 ft, 28 nm west, 7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 28 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0130/FL240/TP BCS1/TB MOD 220-240/RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DVV
Time
01:30 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Turbulence
moderate from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
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
B737 descending, 3 nm south, 8:29 pm MDT (02:29 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 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
E55P at 38,000 ft, 48 nm south, 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV FQF200040/TM 0123/FL380/TP E55P/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm south (200°) of FQF
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-05
B737 descending, 3 nm south, 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 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 0123/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 44 nm south 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
A321 descending, 3 nm south, 6:26 pm MDT (00:26 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 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
00:26 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
E295 at 37,000 ft, 46 nm east, 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop

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 7 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, MCW, DBQ). 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	230° at 39 kt	−34 kt		154 kt	4 h 39 min	3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 35 kt	−34 kt	21 °C	154 kt	4 h 39 min	3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	−26 kt	14 °C	146 kt	4 h 54 min	3:18 am CDT (08:18 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−21 kt	11 °C	141 kt	5 h 05 min	3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−21 kt	7 °C	141 kt	5 h 05 min	3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−22 kt	2 °C	142 kt	5 h 03 min	3:27 am CDT (08:27 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−24 kt	-2 °C	144 kt	4 h 58 min	3:22 am CDT (08:22 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-7 °C	146 kt	4 h 54 min	3:18 am CDT (08:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-8 °C	146 kt	4 h 54 min	3:18 am CDT (08:18 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 32 kt	−32 kt	-20 °C	152 kt	4 h 43 min	3:07 am CDT (08:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 47 kt	−46 kt	-32 °C	166 kt	4 h 19 min	2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 54 kt	−54 kt	-39 °C	174 kt	4 h 07 min	2:31 am CDT (07:31 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 57 kt	−57 kt	-49 °C	177 kt	4 h 03 min	2:27 am CDT (07:27 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°
GLD	used from 99 nm out; 75 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
GRI	used from 199 nm out; 79 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
OMA	used from 348 nm out; 54 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
DSM	used from 447 nm out; 64 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
MCW	used from 497 nm out; 44 nm from the line	220/44	250/30 17°	230/14 12°	240/17 6°	250/22 -8°	270/29 -20°	250/34 -34°	260/52 -43°	260/59 -51°
DBQ	used from 597 nm out; 41 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°

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 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	22,000 ft	5,433 ft	8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC)
AKO Akron, CO	70 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	02:53 UTC
HEQ Holyoke, CO	119 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Weather: haze	from the east (090°) at 5 knots	5 mi	none	3,729 ft	03:15 UTC
LBF North Platte, NE	199 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the east (100°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	2,777 ft	02:53 UTC
GTE Gothenburg, NE	219 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	no report just now				2,558 ft
BVN Albion, NE	318 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,806 ft	03:15 UTC
MEY Mapleton, IA	428 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				1,116 ft
DNS Denison, IA	438 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	1,274 ft	03:15 UTC
IFA Iowa Falls, IA	537 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,137 ft	03:15 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	577 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	02:54 UTC
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	676 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
MSN Madison, WI	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	9:53 pm CDT (02:53 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 MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:27 am CDT (07:27 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSN

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for DEN, the departure

From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet
At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 25 knots, gusting to 37
From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 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, clear skies

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 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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 northern Rockies · 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: Denver International, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.