The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC)

Huntsville Intl-Carl T Jones Field to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal HSV → COS

897 nautical miles (1,032 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 9:07 am MDT (15:07 UTC). Right now HSV is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 3 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 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: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 C10C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
    as issued
    WSUS32 KKCI 120555
    MKCC WST 120555
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C
    VALID UNTIL 0755Z
    CO NM
    FROM 20NNE PUB-40WSW LAA-30WSW CIM-50WSW ALS-50ESE HBU-20NNE PUB
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 10 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 379 to 817 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 90 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 last 0 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 HSV.

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

  • E170 at 22,500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest 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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (HSV, MEM, LIT, SGF, TUL, ICT, GCK, GLD, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft230° at 29 kt+16 kt21 °C104 kt8 h 38 min9:12 am MDT (15:12 UTC)
6,500 ft240° at 26 kt+18 kt16 °C102 kt8 h 48 min9:22 am MDT (15:22 UTC)
8,500 ft250° at 22 kt+18 kt13 °C102 kt8 h 48 min9:22 am MDT (15:22 UTC)
10,500 ft250° at 19 kt+16 kt10 °C104 kt8 h 38 min9:12 am MDT (15:12 UTC)
12,500 ft260° at 17 kt+15 kt6 °C105 kt8 h 33 min9:07 am MDT (15:07 UTC)
14,500 ft250° at 18 kt+16 kt1 °C104 kt8 h 38 min9:12 am MDT (15:12 UTC)
16,500 ft250° at 20 kt+16 kt-3 °C104 kt8 h 38 min9:12 am MDT (15:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180250° at 21 kt+17 kt-6 °C103 kt8 h 43 min9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240260° at 26 kt+24 kt-18 °C96 kt9 h 21 min9:55 am MDT (15:55 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300260° at 46 kt+44 kt-30 °C76 kt11 h 48 min12:22 pm MDT (18:22 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340270° at 48 kt+48 kt-38 °C72 kt12 h 28 min1:02 pm MDT (19:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390280° at 44 kt+44 kt-50 °C76 kt11 h 48 min12:22 pm MDT (18:22 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
HSVused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line310/20330/20 16°320/27 11°340/23 5°320/23 -7°340/30 -17°320/50 -33°330/61 -41°340/41 -50°
MEMused from 100 nm out; 45 nm from the line230/19260/16 15°270/17 12°300/13 6°300/15 -5°300/26 -18°300/34 -32°300/41 -40°310/46 -52°
LITused from 249 nm out; 88 nm from the line220/21230/17 16°250/24 12°260/15 7°260/13 -5°280/25 -16°290/35 -30°300/42 -40°300/40 -52°
SGFused from 299 nm out; 51 nm from the line230/33230/28 15°250/20 13°240/18 7°250/20 -6°250/24 -17°280/42 -31°280/49 -40°290/46 -51°
TULused from 398 nm out; 62 nm from the line210/37240/29 17°260/15 14°260/11 7°240/22 -6°250/29 -16°270/45 -29°270/47 -40°280/44 -50°
ICTused from 498 nm out; 26 nm from the line200/48230/39 19°240/24 14°240/20 8°240/22 -6°250/31 -18°250/61 -29°260/58 -38°270/54 -49°
GCKused from 648 nm out; 33 nm from the line220/48 21°230/37 14°250/30 8°230/37 -6°240/37 -20°240/69 -28°250/67 -37°260/58 -48°
GLDused from 747 nm out; 62 nm from the line230/49230/42 15°220/26 8°240/18 -7°230/27 -21°240/62 -30°240/61 -35°250/57 -47°
PUBused from 797 nm out; 66 nm from the line230/25 13°230/32 6°220/44 -8°230/49 -21°240/70 -28°240/67 -34°240/58 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
HSV Huntsville, AL departure VFR from the east (100°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 628 ft 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC)
SNH Savannah, TN 80 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet calm 10+ mi none 472 ft 06:10 UTC
NQA Millington, TN 159 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 322 ft 23:50 UTC
JBR Jonesboro, AR 199 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 262 ft 05:53 UTC
BBG Branson, MO 329 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 1,302 ft 06:15 UTC
JLN Joplin, MO 408 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots 10+ mi none 977 ft 05:53 UTC
IDP Independence, KS 458 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 12 knots 10+ mi none 824 ft 06:15 UTC
ICT Wichita, KS 548 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south (190°) at 15 knots 10+ mi none 1,332 ft 05:53 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS 707 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots 10+ mi none 2,890 ft 05:54 UTC
LAA Lamar, CO 797 nm out, 25 nm south of the line VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots 10+ mi none 3,705 ft 05:53 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 18,000 feet from the south (180°) at 10 knots 10+ mi none 6,187 ft 11:54 pm MDT (05:54 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, 9:07 am MDT (15:07 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies 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 HSV, the departure
  • From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
  • At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, 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 HSV 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC), at COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 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 lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Huntsville Intl-Carl T Jones Field, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.