Indianapolis International to Denver International IND → DEN
846 nautical miles (974 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 276°, about 281° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 7:43 am MDT (13:43 UTC). Right now IND is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29. 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: 5,656 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 50 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 249 to 757 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 IND.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 43 nm north, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 90 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
- A320 descending, 3 nm south, 11:19 pm EDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 03:19 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
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 8 forecast points nearest it (IND, SPI, BRL, MKC, OMA, GRI, GLD, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +26 kt | 21 °C | 94 kt | 9 h | 8:35 am MDT (14:35 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | +26 kt | 17 °C | 94 kt | 9 h | 8:35 am MDT (14:35 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +22 kt | 12 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 38 min | 8:13 am MDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 9 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 18 min | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 08 min | 7:43 am MDT (13:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 1 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 18 min | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | +21 kt | -4 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 33 min | 8:08 am MDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 23 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 43 min | 8:18 am MDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 30 kt | +29 kt | -20 °C | 91 kt | 9 h 18 min | 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 42 kt | +42 kt | -32 °C | 78 kt | 10 h 51 min | 10:26 am MDT (16:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 51 kt | +52 kt | -39 °C | 68 kt | 12 h 26 min | 12:01 pm MDT (18:01 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 53 kt | +55 kt | -49 °C | 65 kt | 13 h 01 min | 12:36 pm MDT (18:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| SPI | used from 100 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| BRL | used from 199 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| MKC | used from 299 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| OMA | used from 398 nm out; 72 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° |
| GRI | used from 498 nm out; 58 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° | |
| GLD | used from 647 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| DEN | used from 797 nm out; 25 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND Indianapolis, IN | departure | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 50 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 119 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: haze | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | none | 681 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| UIN Quincy, IL | 229 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| IRK Kirksville, MO | 289 nm out, 0 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 398 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FBY Fairbury, NE | 498 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,478 ft | ||||
| HJH Hebron, NE | 518 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 1,468 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 657 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| RYA Wray, CO | 737 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,677 ft | ||||
| AKO Akron, CO | 777 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 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, 7:43 am MDT (13:43 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DEN
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 25 knots, gusting to 37
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for IND, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 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 IND 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 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: Indianapolis International, Denver International.