Plan a flight · Mon 5:44 am EDT (09:44 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 10 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 1:58 pm MDT (19:58 UTC). Right now DTW is IFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 109 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 route from 318 to 844 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 50 nm of the 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). Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 20 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

A21N at 33,000 ft, 8 nm northwest, 2:59 am EDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
B38M at 22,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
08:14 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
B38M at 37,000 ft, 42 nm west, 3:42 am EDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. At the destination end, 42 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
55 nm west (280°) of PUB
Time
07:42 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
A320 at 31,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc

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 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.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	250° at 30 kt	+30 kt	23 °C	90 kt	11 h 02 min	2:46 pm MDT (20:46 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+26 kt	17 °C	94 kt	10 h 34 min	2:18 pm MDT (20:18 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+23 kt	12 °C	97 kt	10 h 14 min	1:58 pm MDT (19:58 UTC)
10,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+23 kt	9 °C	97 kt	10 h 14 min	1:58 pm MDT (19:58 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+24 kt	5 °C	96 kt	10 h 21 min	2:05 pm MDT (20:05 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+26 kt	0 °C	94 kt	10 h 34 min	2:18 pm MDT (20:18 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 27 kt	+28 kt	-5 °C	92 kt	10 h 48 min	2:32 pm MDT (20:32 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 28 kt	+29 kt	-8 °C	91 kt	10 h 55 min	2:39 pm MDT (20:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 38 kt	+39 kt	-20 °C	81 kt	12 h 16 min	4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 51 kt	+51 kt	-33 °C	69 kt	14 h 23 min	6:07 pm MDT (00:07 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 61 kt	+61 kt	-38 °C	59 kt	16 h 50 min	8:34 pm MDT (02:34 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 61 kt	+61 kt	-48 °C	59 kt	16 h 50 min	8:34 pm MDT (02:34 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
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 92 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
MKG	used from 99 nm out; 70 nm from the line	260/28	260/18 15°	250/16 9°	260/22 4°	280/31 -9°	270/35 -21°	270/44 -35°	270/42 -45°	290/61 -51°
JOT	used from 149 nm out; 48 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
DBQ	used from 298 nm out; 52 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
BRL	used from 348 nm out; 43 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DSM	used from 397 nm out; 47 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
OMA	used from 496 nm out; 53 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
GRI	used from 596 nm out; 66 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
GLD	used from 745 nm out; 81 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°
PUB	used from 943 nm out; 41 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	645 ft	4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC)
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	20 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	08:53 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	189 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	09:35 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	228 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	712 ft	08:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	328 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	08:52 UTC
CSQ Creston, IA	496 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,299 ft	09:35 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 (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	08:54 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS	794 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	2,706 ft	09:35 UTC
ADT Atwood, KS	814 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	2,990 ft	09:35 UTC
LIC Limon, CO	933 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	5,374 ft	08:55 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	2:54 am MDT (08:54 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, 1:58 pm MDT (19:58 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for COS

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 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
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for DTW, the departure

From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
From Mon 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.