Plan a flight · Sun 8:59 pm MDT (02:59 UTC)

Yampa Valley Airport to Chicago/Rockford International HDN → RFD

822 nautical miles (946 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 077°, about 067° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:38 am CDT (07:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HDN is VFR, wind calm; RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) 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 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 first 89 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 228 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 168 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 40 nm along 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 228 to 653 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 HDN.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

E75L at 28,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:31 pm MDT (01:31 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the departure end, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR085036/TM 0131/FL280/TP E75L/TB MOD/RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
36 nm east (085°) of EKR
Time
01:31 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 6 nm north, 6:47 pm MDT (00:47 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 59 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG010052/TM 0047/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB COSN MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
52 nm north (010°) of RLG
Time
00:47 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
cosn moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
B738 at 23,000 ft, 50 nm south, 8:34 pm MDT (02:34 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. 79 nm along the route, 50 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0234/FL230/TP B738/TB MOD /RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DVV
Time
02:34 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
BCS1 at 24,000 ft, 50 nm south, 7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. 79 nm along the route, 50 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0130/FL240/TP BCS1/TB MOD 220-240/RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DVV
Time
01:30 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Turbulence
moderate from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 39 nm south, 6:18 pm MDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 287 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
UAL796 at 30,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 6:09 pm MDT (00:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 230° at 42 knots. At the departure end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL796 4004N 10755W 0009 F300 230/042KT TB OCNL LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
CL35 at 41,000 ft, 36 nm south, 8:40 pm MDT (02:40 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-50FT a 15-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG/TM 0240/FL410/TP CL35/RM MTW +/-50FT +/-15KT ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
over RLG
Time
02:40 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Remarks
mtw +/-50FT a 15-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-05
B738 at 32,000 ft, 50 nm south, 7:42 pm MDT (01:42 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 30,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 50 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG160014/TM 0142/FL320/TP B738/TB LGT-MOD BLO 300/RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
14 nm south (160°) of RLG
Time
01:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light to moderate below 30,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
C56X at 13,000 ft, 35 nm north, 7:33 pm MDT (01:33 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 79 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAR UA /OV LAR/TM 0133/FL130/TP C56X/SK BASE160/TB OCNL CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAR
Where
over LAR
Time
01:33 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
BASE160
Turbulence
occasional continuous light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 33 nm south, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 267 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 30 nm south, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 267 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 30 nm south, 8:15 pm MDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 713 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A321 at 32,000 ft, 13 nm south, 7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the destination end, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence

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 7 forecast points nearest it (DEN, BFF, ONL, GRI, OMA, DSM, DBQ). 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	230° at 29 kt	−24 kt	21 °C	144 kt	5 h 42 min	3:41 am CDT (08:41 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−21 kt	14 °C	141 kt	5 h 50 min	3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	5 h 52 min	3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−21 kt	7 °C	141 kt	5 h 50 min	3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	−23 kt	2 °C	143 kt	5 h 45 min	3:44 am CDT (08:44 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-2 °C	145 kt	5 h 40 min	3:39 am CDT (08:39 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	−27 kt	-7 °C	147 kt	5 h 36 min	3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 29 kt	−27 kt	-8 °C	147 kt	5 h 36 min	3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 34 kt	−32 kt	-20 °C	152 kt	5 h 24 min	3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 44 kt	−41 kt	-33 °C	161 kt	5 h 06 min	3:05 am CDT (08:05 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 52 kt	−52 kt	-39 °C	172 kt	4 h 47 min	2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 56 kt	−57 kt	-48 °C	177 kt	4 h 39 min	2:38 am CDT (07:38 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
DEN	used from 0 nm out; 102 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°
BFF	used from 149 nm out; 48 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°
ONL	used from 297 nm out; 91 nm from the line		210/31 20°	230/27 13°	230/18 7°	220/19 -8°	240/26 -20°	250/44 -35°	270/52 -39°	260/57 -47°
GRI	used from 347 nm out; 54 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
OMA	used from 446 nm out; 57 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
DSM	used from 545 nm out; 56 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
DBQ	used from 693 nm out; 36 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°

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
HDN Hayden, CO	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	6,606 ft	8:56 pm MDT (02:56 UTC)
SBS Steamboat Springs, CO	20 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet	from the north (010°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	6,882 ft	02:55 UTC
CYS Cheyenne, WY	119 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (090°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	6,159 ft	02:53 UTC
SNY Sidney, NE	198 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	4,314 ft	19:53 UTC
OGA Ogallala, NE	248 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	3,279 ft	02:35 UTC
ODX Ord, NE	376 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,070 ft	02:53 UTC
BVN Albion, NE	426 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,806 ft	02:35 UTC
DNS Denison, IA	545 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	1,274 ft	02:35 UTC
MIW Marshalltown, IA	653 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	974 ft	02:53 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	703 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	02:52 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	752 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	02:53 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,882 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:38 am CDT (07:38 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for HDN, the departure

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,600 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 HDN 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Yampa Valley Airport, Chicago/Rockford International.