Northeast Wyoming Regional to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal GCC → COS
335 nautical miles (385 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 173°, about 164° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 2:48 am MDT (08:48 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GCC is low IFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 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: 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
- SIGMET 8C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 59 to 59 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8C VALID UNTIL 0655Z NE SD WY FROM 50WNW RAP-20SSW RAP-60NW BFF-40ENE DDY-50WNW RAP DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 0 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 first 0 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). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 30 nm along 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 GCC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 34 nm west, 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 227 nm along the route, 34 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
- A320 descending, 8 nm east, 9:19 pm MDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 276 nm along the route, 8 nm east 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
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 36 nm west, 11:06 pm MDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 315 nm along the route, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 05:06 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
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 3 forecast points nearest it (RAP, BFF, DEN). 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 | 180° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 12 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 36 min | 3:11 am MDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 13 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 19 min | 2:54 am MDT (08:54 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +19 kt | 13 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 19 min | 2:54 am MDT (08:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +20 kt | 7 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 21 min | 2:56 am MDT (08:56 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +21 kt | 2 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:58 am MDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +23 kt | -2 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 27 min | 3:02 am MDT (09:02 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | +24 kt | -8 °C | 96 kt | 3 h 29 min | 3:04 am MDT (09:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 38 kt | +25 kt | -9 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 32 min | 3:07 am MDT (09:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 43 kt | +29 kt | -21 °C | 91 kt | 3 h 41 min | 3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 45 kt | +27 kt | -32 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 36 min | 3:11 am MDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 52 kt | +19 kt | -36 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 19 min | 2:54 am MDT (08:54 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 52 kt | +16 kt | -46 °C | 104 kt | 3 h 13 min | 2:48 am MDT (08:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | used from 0 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 49 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 197 nm out; 51 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCC Gillette, WY | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 4,365 ft | 11:08 pm MDT (05:08 UTC) |
| DGW Douglas, WY | 89 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,932 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 128 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 4,401 ft | 05:13 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 197 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 236 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| APA Denver, CO | 286 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 5,884 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 6,187 ft | 10:54 pm MDT (04:54 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, 2:48 am MDT (08:48 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 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 GCC, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 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 GCC 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 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
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: Northeast Wyoming Regional, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.