Great Falls International to Denver International GTF → DEN
542 nautical miles (623 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 145°, about 132° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (5,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:49 pm MDT (19:49 UTC). Right now GTF is low IFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 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: 1,456 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 first 345 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 355 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 335 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 158 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 158 nm of the route.
- 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 route from 404 to 463 nm out.
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 GTF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 19 nm southwest, 6:54 am MDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. At the destination end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:54 UTC
- Height
- at 6,700 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
- urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 19 nm southwest, 6:40 am MDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. At the destination end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:40 UTC
- Height
- at 6,800 ft
- Aircraft
- FA7X
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
- urgent TBM7 at 100 ft, 20 nm southwest, 6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. At the destination end, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV APA140001/TM 1230/FL001/TP TBM7/TB LGT CHOP/RM LLWS +-10KTS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- 1 nm southeast (140°) of APA
- Time
- 12:30 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM7
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed
- E75L at 30,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 8:34 am MDT (14:34 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-34. 443 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAR UA /OV LAR200010/TM 1434/FL300/TP E75L/TB MOD CHOP/RM -ZDVWC-34
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAR
- Where
- 10 nm south (200°) of LAR
- Time
- 14:34 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-34
- BE20 at 12,500 ft, 37 nm northeast, 8:28 am MDT (14:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 9,000 ft to 12,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. 473 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CYS UA /OV CYS/TM 1428/FL125/TP BE20/TB MOD 090-120/RM DURC -ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CYS
- Where
- over CYS
- Time
- 14:28 UTC
- Height
- at 12,500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Turbulence
- moderate from 9,000 ft to 12,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zdvwc
- B738 descending, 6 nm southwest, 7:01 am MDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 502 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40NW den
- Time
- 13:01 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
- B737 at 16,000 ft, 3 nm south, 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 502 nm along the route, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN320040/TM 1223/FL160/TP B737/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
- Time
- 12:23 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B737 at 21,000 ft, 6 nm west, 8:05 am MDT (14:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. At the destination end, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN310025/TM 1405/FL210/TP B737/TB MOD TURB/RM MTN WAVE +30KTS 250-150 DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm northwest (310°) of DEN
- Time
- 14:05 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate turbulence
- Remarks
- mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
- B38M at 12,000 ft, 26 nm east, 8:07 am MDT (14:07 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft. At the destination end, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN090025/TM 1407/FL120/TP B38M/TB MOD/RM 110-120
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm east (090°) of DEN
- Time
- 14:07 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft
- B738 descending, 41 nm southwest, 6:55 am MDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40SW den
- Time
- 12:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- C172 at 200 ft, 18 nm southwest, 6:35 am MDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. At the destination end, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA350001/TM 1235/FL002/TP C172/TB MOD TURB/RM LLWS +-15KTS
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 1 nm north (350°) of APA
- Time
- 12:35 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- moderate turbulence
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed
- DC3T at 8,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 8:03 am MDT (14:03 UTC): light to moderate rime icing above 8,000 ft, -8 °C. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GTF UA /OV 300025/TM 1403/FL085/TP DC3T/TA M8/IC LGT-MOD RIME 080
- Report
- a routine report filed through GTF
- Where
- wind from 300° at 25 knots
- Time
- 14:03 UTC
- Height
- at 8,500 ft
- Aircraft
- DC3T
- Temperature
- −8 °C
- Icing
- light to moderate rime at 8,000 ft
- A319 at 7,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC): overcast from 30,000 ft to 7,500 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GTF UA /OV 180010/TM 1341/FL075/TP A319/SK OVC003-TOPS075
- Report
- a routine report filed through GTF
- Where
- wind from 180° at 10 knots
- Time
- 13:41 UTC
- Height
- at 7,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- overcast from 300 ft, tops 7,500 ft
- B752 at 41,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 6:31 am MDT (12:31 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 41,000 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
HLN UA /OV HLN009010/TM 1231/FL410/TP B752/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 410/ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through HLN
- Where
- 10 nm north (009°) of HLN
- Time
- 12:31 UTC
- Height
- at 41,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate 410/ZLC
11 more routine reports are on the map.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (GTF, BIL, LND, 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 | 310° at 3 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 4 h 27 min | 1:49 pm MDT (19:49 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 8 kt | 0 | 6 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 31 min | 1:53 pm MDT (19:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 12 kt | −1 kt | 2 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 29 min | 1:51 pm MDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +1 kt | 0 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 33 min | 1:55 pm MDT (19:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +2 kt | -4 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 36 min | 1:58 pm MDT (19:58 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +5 kt | -8 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 43 min | 2:05 pm MDT (20:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +7 kt | -13 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 48 min | 2:10 pm MDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 28 kt | +7 kt | -14 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 48 min | 2:10 pm MDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 40 kt | +11 kt | -26 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 58 min | 2:20 pm MDT (20:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 56 kt | +13 kt | -34 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 04 min | 2:26 pm MDT (20:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 66 kt | +15 kt | -38 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 10 min | 2:32 pm MDT (20:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 68 kt | +15 kt | -44 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 10 min | 2:32 pm MDT (20:32 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -4° | 230/12 -3° | 210/12 -17° | 190/23 -29° | 200/48 -39° | 210/69 -39° | 220/66 -42° | |
| BIL | used from 98 nm out; 48 nm from the line | L/V | 250/11 -1° | 240/20 -2° | 230/28 -15° | 220/28 -28° | 220/53 -34° | 220/55 -39° | 220/63 -44° | |
| LND | used from 246 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/16 3° | 230/26 -1° | 210/30 -14° | 220/57 -26° | 220/60 -31° | 220/62 -38° | 220/52 -44° | ||
| BFF | used from 394 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 310/15 | 280/27 8° | 250/27 2° | 230/30 -12° | 240/52 -22° | 250/66 -32° | 240/78 -37° | 240/76 -43° | |
| DEN | used from 443 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 230/7 11° | 230/13 4° | 230/40 -9° | 230/48 -20° | 240/66 -32° | 240/88 -38° | 230/100 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTF Great Falls, MT | departure | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: freezing fog | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 0.25 mi | 300 ft | 3,680 ft | 9:08 am MDT (15:08 UTC) |
| HWQ Harlowton, MT | 89 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,311 ft | ||||
| POY Powell, WY | 187 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 14 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 5,096 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| WRL Worland, WY | 256 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 4,251 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 345 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (360°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 5,344 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| LAR Laramie, WY | 443 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,283 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 502 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,283 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:49 pm MDT (19:49 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for DEN
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for GTF, the departure
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ¾ mile, mist, sky obscured at 500 feet
- At times between Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC) and 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 300 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 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 GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC), at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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: Great Falls International, Denver International.