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 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 12:45 am MDT (06:45 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GCK is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25; DRO is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 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 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 first 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 219 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 159 to 189 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 229 to 258 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). Over the last 99 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 GCK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BE9L at 24,500 ft, 40 nm north, 9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. 209 nm along the route, 40 nm north 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
- SW4 at 15,000 ft, 40 nm northwest, 8:39 pm CDT (01:39 UTC): moderate turbulence, light rime icing, freezing, rain, 0 °C, remarks: instrument conditions ZDVWC-36. At the destination end, 40 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CEZ UA /OV CEZ030030/TM 0139/FL150/TP SW4/SK BASE150/WX FZ RA/TA 00/TB CONS MOD/IC LGT RIME/RM IMC ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through CEZ
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (030°) of CEZ
- Time
- 01:39 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SW4
- Sky
- BASE150
- Weather
- freezing, rain
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- instrument conditions ZDVWC-36
- 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
- B38M at 36,000 ft, 29 nm north, 9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30. 229 nm along the route, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS360035/TM 0222/FL360/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM MTW +/-200FT ZDVWC-30
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 35 nm north (360°) of ALS
- Time
- 02:22 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30
- 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, 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
- 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
- E75L at 14,000 ft, 29 nm southwest, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): light to moderate turbulence from 19,000 ft to 25,000 ft, no icing, remarks: ZDVWC-36. At the destination end, 29 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UA /OV RSK/TM 0128/FL140/TP E75L/TB LGT-MOD 250-190/IC NEG/RM ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through FMN
- Where
- over RSK
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- light to moderate from 25,000 ft to 19,000 ft
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-36
- BE9L at 20,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 7:59 pm CDT (00:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions ZDVWC-36. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0059/FL200/TP BE9L/TB LGT CHOP/RM IMC ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- over DRO
- Time
- 00:59 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- instrument conditions ZDVWC-36
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 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 | 230° at 31 kt | +25 kt | 13 °C | 95 kt | 3 h 33 min | 12:45 am MDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +28 kt | 8 °C | 92 kt | 3 h 40 min | 12:52 am MDT (06:52 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +30 kt | 5 °C | 90 kt | 3 h 45 min | 12:57 am MDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | +32 kt | 0 °C | 88 kt | 3 h 50 min | 1:02 am MDT (07:02 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 43 kt | +34 kt | -4 °C | 86 kt | 3 h 56 min | 1:08 am MDT (07:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 46 kt | +35 kt | -8 °C | 85 kt | 3 h 59 min | 1:11 am MDT (07:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | +43 kt | -21 °C | 77 kt | 4 h 23 min | 1:35 am MDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 73 kt | +67 kt | -27 °C | 53 kt | 6 h 23 min | 3:35 am MDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | +68 kt | -35 °C | 52 kt | 6 h 30 min | 3:42 am MDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 58 kt | +55 kt | -46 °C | 65 kt | 5 h 12 min | 2:24 am MDT (08:24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 99 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 199 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 298 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK Garden City, KS | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC) |
| ULS Ulysses, KS | 30 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 20 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,071 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 50 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,325 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| LAA Lamar, CO | 89 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | none | 3,705 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LHX La Junta, CO | 129 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,228 ft | 15:53 UTC |
| TAD Trinidad, CO | 179 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 5,761 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| ALS Alamosa, CO | 248 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 9 mi | 6,000 ft | 7,539 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| 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 | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,700 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms, rain, mist | from the south (170°) at 8 knots, gusting to 18 | 0.75 mi | 400 ft | 7,663 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| DRO Durango, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 6,689 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
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, 12:45 am MDT (06:45 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DRO
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 7,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for GCK, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 before sunrise there (7:15 am MDT (13:15 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.