The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 11:32 pm EDT (03:32 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal DTW → COS

993 nautical miles (1,143 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 6:59 am MDT (12:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is marginal VFR, wind calm; COS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 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 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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

  • SIGMET W11W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120255
    MKCW WST 120255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11W
    VALID UNTIL 0455Z
    CO NM
    FROM 20WNW PUB-10ENE CIM-50WNW ABQ-30NNE DVC-20WNW PUB
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 149 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 447 to 913 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 99 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 DTW.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • urgent B407 at 10,000 ft, 10 nm west, 10:13 pm EDT (02:13 UTC): moderate to severe turbulence. At the destination end, 10 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    COS UUA /OV 10 W COS/TM 0213/FL100/TP B407/TB MDT-SEV
    Report
    an urgent report filed through COS
    Where
    10 west cos
    Time
    02:13 UTC
    Height
    at 10,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B407
    Turbulence
    mdt-sev
  • A320 at 33,000 ft, 12 nm north, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 79 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through JXN
    Where
    30 nm west (280°) of JXN
    Time
    00:36 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
    Remarks
    zob
  • BE9L at 24,500 ft, 47 nm southwest, 10:21 pm EDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
    Report
    a routine report filed through PUB
    Where
    40 nm west (250°) of PUB
    Time
    02:21 UTC
    Height
    at 24,500 ft
    Aircraft
    BE9L
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate
    Remarks
    ZDVWC-41
  • B738 at 18,000 ft, 29 nm northwest, 10:02 pm EDT (02:02 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 18,000 ft to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 29 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    COS UA /OV BRK270030/TM 0202/FL180/TP B738/TB MOD CHOP 180-250/RM DURC ZDVWC-41
    Report
    a routine report filed through COS
    Where
    30 nm west (270°) of BRK
    Time
    02:02 UTC
    Height
    at 18,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Turbulence
    moderate chop from 18,000 ft to 25,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb ZDVWC-41
  • C25B at 2,000 ft, 27 nm north, 10:18 pm EDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV 2 W/TM 0218/FL020/TP C25B/SK BASES 020 OVC
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    2 west
    Time
    02:18 UTC
    Height
    at 2,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C25B
    Sky
    bases 2,000 ft overcast
  • CRJ7 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    over DTW
    Time
    02:07 UTC
    Height
    at the surface
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    a broken layer from 1,500 ft
  • SR22 at 1,300 ft, 27 nm north, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV PTK270003/TM 0125/FL013/TP SR22/SK BASES 019 OVC
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    3 nm west (270°) of PTK
    Time
    01:25 UTC
    Height
    at 1,300 ft
    Aircraft
    SR22
    Sky
    bases 1,900 ft overcast
  • CRJ7 descending, 0 nm south, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
    Report
    a routine report filed through DTW
    Where
    final 3R
    Time
    01:01 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    overcast from 2,800 ft
  • C550 at 2,300 ft, 27 nm north, 8:46 pm EDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
    Report
    a routine report filed through PTK
    Where
    4W
    Time
    00:46 UTC
    Height
    at 2,300 ft
    Aircraft
    C550
    Remarks
    fis 4 mile final
  • A320 descending, 47 nm north, 10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. At the departure end, 47 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 0209/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY18 FNT
    Report
    a routine report filed through FNT
    Where
    over FNT
    Time
    02:09 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,000 ft
    Remarks
    on final runway 18 fnt
  • PA44 descending, 35 nm south, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    02:27 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    PA44
    Sky
    BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
    Weather
    fog
  • C525 descending, 35 nm south, 9:41 pm EDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOL
    Where
    over TOL
    Time
    01:41 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    C525
    Sky
    TOPS035 BKN010
    Weather
    2SM
  • A320 descending, 46 nm north, 9:35 pm EDT (01:35 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 09 fnt. At the departure end, 46 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FNT UA /OV FNT270008/TM 0135/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC019 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY09 FNT
    Report
    a routine report filed through FNT
    Where
    8 nm west (270°) of FNT
    Time
    01:35 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 3,000 ft
    Remarks
    on final runway 09 fnt
  • E170 at 21,000 ft, 19 nm north, 9:07 pm EDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 50 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAN
    Where
    20 nm south (180°) of LAN
    Time
    01:07 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Turbulence
    lght chop
    Remarks
    during the climb zob

5 more routine reports are on the map.

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 10 forecast points nearest it (FWA, MKG, JOT, DBQ, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft240° at 31 kt+30 kt21 °C90 kt11 h 02 min8:34 am MDT (14:34 UTC)
6,500 ft250° at 28 kt+28 kt16 °C92 kt10 h 48 min8:20 am MDT (14:20 UTC)
8,500 ft250° at 22 kt+22 kt12 °C98 kt10 h 08 min7:40 am MDT (13:40 UTC)
10,500 ft240° at 18 kt+18 kt9 °C102 kt9 h 44 min7:16 am MDT (13:16 UTC)
12,500 ft240° at 16 kt+15 kt5 °C105 kt9 h 27 min6:59 am MDT (12:59 UTC)
14,500 ft250° at 18 kt+18 kt0 °C102 kt9 h 44 min7:16 am MDT (13:16 UTC)
16,500 ft260° at 20 kt+21 kt-4 °C99 kt10 h 02 min7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180260° at 22 kt+23 kt-8 °C97 kt10 h 14 min7:46 am MDT (13:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240260° at 29 kt+30 kt-20 °C90 kt11 h 02 min8:34 am MDT (14:34 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300260° at 41 kt+43 kt-33 °C77 kt12 h 54 min10:26 am MDT (16:26 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340270° at 50 kt+51 kt-40 °C69 kt14 h 23 min11:55 am MDT (17:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390280° at 55 kt+53 kt-49 °C67 kt14 h 49 min12:21 pm MDT (18:21 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
FWAused from 0 nm out; 92 nm from the line300/17320/20 16°330/20 10°340/15 3°310/27 -8°320/37 -20°330/52 -36°330/65 -43°330/60 -50°
MKGused from 99 nm out; 70 nm from the line260/22290/16 15°300/11 10°290/5 3°300/26 -9°300/32 -20°320/48 -36°320/61 -45°310/74 -53°
JOTused from 149 nm out; 48 nm from the line250/23270/22 15°250/16 10°240/9 4°280/22 -7°280/29 -19°300/29 -34°290/50 -43°300/64 -52°
DBQused from 298 nm out; 52 nm from the line230/33250/30 16°280/15 9°260/15 5°260/21 -7°260/24 -20°250/37 -33°270/42 -43°280/63 -52°
BRLused from 348 nm out; 43 nm from the line230/24240/29 15°290/16 10°280/15 4°260/23 -7°260/32 -19°260/36 -33°280/48 -41°280/59 -52°
DSMused from 397 nm out; 47 nm from the line230/40250/33 17°250/18 12°240/17 5°260/28 -8°270/34 -19°260/41 -33°260/55 -41°270/62 -51°
OMAused from 496 nm out; 53 nm from the line220/47240/33 19°250/18 11°230/17 6°260/29 -8°250/33 -19°250/51 -33°260/61 -40°270/62 -49°
GRIused from 596 nm out; 66 nm from the line230/35 21°230/23 13°220/20 7°240/25 -8°240/37 -20°250/49 -33°260/57 -38°260/58 -47°
GLDused from 745 nm out; 81 nm from the line230/49230/42 15°220/26 8°240/18 -7°230/27 -21°240/62 -30°240/61 -35°250/57 -47°
PUBused from 943 nm out; 41 nm from the line230/25 13°230/32 6°220/44 -8°230/49 -21°240/70 -28°240/67 -34°240/58 -46°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
DTW Detroit, MI departure marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet calm 10+ mi 2,000 ft 645 ft 10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)
ARB Ann Arbor, MI 20 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower reported, no category calm none 839 ft 02:53 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN 189 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR variable at 4 knots 10+ mi none 596 ft 02:50 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL 228 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 712 ft 02:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL 328 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south (180°) at 10 knots 10+ mi none 589 ft 02:52 UTC
CSQ Creston, IA 496 nm out, 3 nm west of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 1,299 ft 03:15 UTC
CRZ Corning, IA 516 nm out, 4 nm north of the line no report just now 1,274 ft
LNK Lincoln, NE 606 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 1,218 ft 02:54 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS 794 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 12 knots 10+ mi none 2,706 ft 03:15 UTC
ADT Atwood, KS 814 nm out, 8 nm north of the line VFR from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 10+ mi none 2,990 ft 03:15 UTC
LIC Limon, CO 933 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 10+ mi none 5,374 ft 02:55 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO destination VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots 10+ mi 16,000 ft 6,187 ft 8:54 pm MDT (02:54 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, 6:59 am MDT (12:59 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for COS
  • From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 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
The forecast for DTW, the departure
  • From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,600 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COS is before sunrise there (7:04 am MDT (13:04 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 central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the northern Rockies
Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.