Denver International to Rapid City Regional DEN → RAP
261 nautical miles (301 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 015°, about 007° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 41-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:24 pm MDT (01:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 5,736 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 48 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 E545 at 6,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 3:49 pm MDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. At the departure end, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV APA350002/TM 2149/FL060/TP E545/RM LLWS +/- 5 KT FAP RWY 17L
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- 2 nm north (350°) of APA
- Time
- 21:49 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L
- GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 38 nm south, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 38 nm south 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
- UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 43 nm east, 5:31 pm MDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 29 nm along the route, 43 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 32 nm west, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 29 nm along the route, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B737 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2327/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no turbulence on final runway 17R
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 4:29 pm MDT (22:29 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 2229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 at 15,000 ft, 21 nm east, 3:37 pm MDT (21:37 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. At the departure end, 21 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080020/TM 2137/FL150/TP B737/TB CONS LGT OCNL CHOP 150-180/RM DURC ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 20 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 21:37 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional chop from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zdvwc
- CRJ2 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 3:31 pm MDT (21:31 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2131/FL065/TP CRJ2/TB LGT CHOP ON FINAL RWY16L
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 21:31 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- light chop on final runway 16L
- B730 at 37,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 3:11 pm MDT (21:11 UTC): remarks: mtw +15/-10KT ZDVWC-30. At the departure end, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK310040/TM 2111/FL370/TP B730/RM MTW +15/-10KT ZDVWC-30
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 40 nm northwest (310°) of BRK
- Time
- 21:11 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B730
- Remarks
- mtw +15/-10KT ZDVWC-30
- E75L at 13,000 ft, 12 nm south, 3:07 pm MDT (21:07 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: below 17,000 ft. At the departure end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN200010/TM 2107/FL130/TP E75L/TB LT OCNL MOD/RM BLO 170
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 10 nm south (200°) of DEN
- Time
- 21:07 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- lt occasional moderate
- Remarks
- below 17,000 ft
- B38M at 15,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 3:04 pm MDT (21:04 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN130020/TM 2104/FL150/TP B38M/TB LT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 20 nm southeast (130°) of DEN
- Time
- 21:04 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- lt chop
- A320 at 8,000 ft, 30 nm east, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 30 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- A20N at 9,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 2:51 pm MDT (20:51 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: 090-FL180. At the departure end, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN320025/TM 2051/FL090/TP A20N/TB LT OCNL MOD/RM 090-FL180
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
- Time
- 20:51 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A20N
- Turbulence
- lt occasional moderate
- Remarks
- 090-FL180
- B738 at 35,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. 39 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
- Report
- a routine report filed through AKO
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of AKO
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-07
3 more routine reports are on the map.
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 3 forecast points nearest it (DEN, BFF, RAP). 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 | 120° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 12 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 05 min | 7:52 pm MDT (01:52 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 160° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 14 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 53 min | 7:40 pm MDT (01:40 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 190° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 12 °C | 147 kt | 1 h 47 min | 7:34 pm MDT (01:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 7 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 47 min | 7:34 pm MDT (01:34 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −26 kt | 3 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 47 min | 7:34 pm MDT (01:34 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | −25 kt | -2 °C | 145 kt | 1 h 48 min | 7:35 pm MDT (01:35 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −25 kt | -7 °C | 145 kt | 1 h 48 min | 7:35 pm MDT (01:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | −24 kt | -8 °C | 144 kt | 1 h 49 min | 7:36 pm MDT (01:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 42 kt | −31 kt | -21 °C | 151 kt | 1 h 44 min | 7:31 pm MDT (01:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 52 kt | −41 kt | -36 °C | 161 kt | 1 h 37 min | 7:24 pm MDT (01:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 56 kt | −35 kt | -40 °C | 155 kt | 1 h 41 min | 7:28 pm MDT (01:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | −29 kt | -46 °C | 149 kt | 1 h 45 min | 7:32 pm MDT (01:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| BFF | used from 48 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 120/24 | 180/31 13° | 210/26 7° | 230/25 -7° | 240/41 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 250/56 -41° | 260/57 -45° | |
| RAP | used from 194 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | no report just now | 5,433 ft | ||||
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 29 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,020 ft | ||||
| IBM Kimball, NE | 87 nm out, 22 nm east of the line | no report just now | 4,925 ft | ||||
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 126 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | no report just now | 3,967 ft | ||||
| TOR Torrington, WY | 136 nm out, 13 nm west of the line | no report just now | 4,206 ft | ||||
| CDR Chadron, NE | 194 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,297 ft | ||||
| HSR Hot Springs, SD | 223 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,150 ft | ||||
| RAP Rapid City, SD | destination | no report just now | 3,203 ft |
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 RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:24 pm MDT (01:24 UTC)
RAP has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is after sunset there (6:15 pm MDT (00:15 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, Rapid City Regional.