Garden City Regional to Durango-La Plata County GCK → DRO
338 nautical miles (389 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 259° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 10:09 pm MDT (04:09 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: 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 W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 179 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 189 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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, 318 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 GCK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- UAL2238 at 38,000 ft, 50 nm north, 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 244° at 64 knots. 288 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2238 3807N 10649W 2344 F380 244/064KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- GLF4 at 43,000 ft, 25 nm north, 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-38. At the destination end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UA /OV RSK360050/TM 0009/FL430/TP GLF4/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-38
- Report
- a routine report filed through FMN
- Where
- 50 nm north (360°) of RSK
- Time
- 00:09 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF4
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-38
- E545 at 45,000 ft, 34 nm southwest, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 34 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UA /OV RSK2950301/TM 2229/FL450/TP E545/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through FMN
- Where
- 301 nm southwest (950°) of RSK2
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- A21N at 31,000 ft, 43 nm north, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): remarks: mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29. 169 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB/TM 0024/FL310/TP A21N/RM MTN WAVE +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- over PUB
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Remarks
- mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
- CL35 at 43,000 ft, 40 nm north, 7:21 pm CDT (00:21 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-300FT zdvwc. 209 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0021/FL430/TP CL35/RM MTW +/-300FT ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 40 nm west (250°) of PUB
- Time
- 00:21 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Remarks
- mtw +/-300FT zdvwc
- BE9L at 20,000 ft, 31 nm north, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-41. 248 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS330035/TM 0034/FL200/TP BE9L/TA M09/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 35 nm northwest (330°) of ALS
- Time
- 00:34 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-41
- E145 at 7,400 ft, 5 nm southeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): remarks: reported below minimums visibility 1/2SM ZDVWC-41. 248 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS/TM 0015/FL074/TP E145/SK VASE UNKN/RM REPORTED BLO MINIMUMS VIS 1/2SM ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- over ALS
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 7,400 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- vase unknown
- Remarks
- reported below minimums visibility 1/2SM ZDVWC-41
- E145 at 7,400 ft, 3 nm northeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): remarks: base reported below minimums 1/2 miles visibility ZDVWC-41. 248 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV KALS/TM 0015/FL074/TP E145/RM BASE REPORTED BELOW MINIMUMS 1/2 SM VIS ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- over KALS
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 7,400 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Remarks
- base reported below minimums 1/2 miles visibility ZDVWC-41
- B738 at 35,000 ft, 34 nm north, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-30. 258 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS319040/TM 2218/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT-OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-30
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 40 nm northwest (319°) of ALS
- Time
- 22:18 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous lgt-ocnl moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-30
- PRM1 at 41,000 ft, 20 nm north, 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 268 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS290035/TM 2338/FL410/TP PRM1/TB LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC-46
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 35 nm west (290°) of ALS
- Time
- 23:38 UTC
- Height
- at 41,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PRM1
- Turbulence
- light to moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-46
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (GCK, PUB, ALS, FMN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | +19 kt | 15 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 21 min | 10:09 pm MDT (04:09 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +21 kt | 9 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 25 min | 10:13 pm MDT (04:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 27 min | 10:15 pm MDT (04:15 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | +27 kt | 1 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 38 min | 10:26 pm MDT (04:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +31 kt | -4 °C | 89 kt | 3 h 48 min | 10:36 pm MDT (04:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 40 kt | +34 kt | -8 °C | 86 kt | 3 h 56 min | 10:44 pm MDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -20 °C | 83 kt | 4 h 04 min | 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 70 kt | +63 kt | -30 °C | 57 kt | 5 h 56 min | 12:44 am MDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 68 kt | +63 kt | -37 °C | 57 kt | 5 h 56 min | 12:44 am MDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 58 kt | +55 kt | -48 °C | 65 kt | 5 h 12 min | 12:00 am MDT (06:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| PUB | used from 99 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/24 16° | 210/28 8° | 230/43 -8° | 240/42 -21° | 240/77 -30° | 240/72 -36° | 250/51 -47° | ||
| ALS | used from 199 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 210/32 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/49 -20° | 230/78 -30° | 240/74 -36° | 240/61 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 298 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK Garden City, KS | departure | no report just now | 2,890 ft | ||||
| ULS Ulysses, KS | 30 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,071 ft | ||||
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 50 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,325 ft | ||||
| LAA Lamar, CO | 89 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,705 ft | ||||
| LHX La Junta, CO | 129 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,228 ft | ||||
| TAD Trinidad, CO | 179 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | no report just now | 5,761 ft | ||||
| ALS Alamosa, CO | 248 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 7,539 ft | ||||
| MVI Monte Vista, CO | 258 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | no report just now | 7,611 ft | ||||
| PSO Pagosa Springs, CO | 308 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 7,663 ft | ||||
| DRO Durango, CO | destination | no report just now | 6,689 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,663 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DRO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:09 pm MDT (04:09 UTC)
DRO 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 GCK 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC), at DRO 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DRO is after sunset there (6:39 pm MDT (00:39 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: Garden City Regional, Durango-La Plata County.