Joe Foss Field to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field FSD → ASE
525 nautical miles (605 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 10:55 am MDT (16:55 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots; ASE is VFR, wind variable at 4 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: 1 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 258 nm out.
- 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 79 to 119 nm out.
- 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, 278 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 178 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, 396 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 129 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 FSD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm north, 5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 446 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- 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 5 forecast points nearest it (FSD, ONL, BFF, DEN, GJT). 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 | 260° at 27 kt | +25 kt | 22 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 32 min | 10:55 am MDT (16:55 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | +26 kt | 21 °C | 94 kt | 5 h 35 min | 10:58 am MDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 14 °C | 93 kt | 5 h 39 min | 11:02 am MDT (17:02 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 9 °C | 94 kt | 5 h 35 min | 10:58 am MDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 5 °C | 94 kt | 5 h 35 min | 10:58 am MDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +29 kt | -1 °C | 91 kt | 5 h 46 min | 11:09 am MDT (17:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | +32 kt | -6 °C | 88 kt | 5 h 58 min | 11:21 am MDT (17:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 37 kt | +35 kt | -10 °C | 85 kt | 6 h 11 min | 11:34 am MDT (17:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 42 kt | +39 kt | -21 °C | 81 kt | 6 h 29 min | 11:52 am MDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 53 kt | +54 kt | -32 °C | 66 kt | 7 h 57 min | 1:20 pm MDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 61 kt | +61 kt | -36 °C | 59 kt | 8 h 54 min | 2:17 pm MDT (20:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 61 kt | +62 kt | -46 °C | 58 kt | 9 h 03 min | 2:26 pm MDT (20:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| ONL | used from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 198 nm out; 107 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| DEN | used from 347 nm out; 52 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° | ||
| GJT | used from 496 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC) |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 40 nm out, 23 nm south of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 79 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,477 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| RBE Bassett, NE | 139 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,349 ft | ||||
| TIF Thedford, NE | 198 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,925 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 278 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| SNY Sidney, NE | 317 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 19:53 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 416 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| BJC Denver, CO | 436 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,673 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| LXV Leadville, CO | 505 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 9,933 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,933 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ASE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:55 am MDT (16:55 UTC)
Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
The forecast for FSD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 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 FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at ASE 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 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: Joe Foss Field, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.