Jackson Hole Airport to Rifle Garfield County JAC → RIL
280 nautical miles (322 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 150°, about 137° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (13,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 11:36 pm MDT (05:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now JAC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots; RIL is VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 7 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 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 40 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 whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 230 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 220 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 260 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 120 to 190 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 JAC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- S22T at 15,000 ft, 41 nm northeast, 7:47 pm MDT (01:47 UTC): moderate rime icing above 15,000 ft, -5 °C. At the departure end, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV DNW010020/TM 0147/FL150/TP S22T/TA M05/IC MOD RIME 150 /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- 20 nm north (010°) of DNW
- Time
- 01:47 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Icing
- moderate rime at 15,000 ft zlc
- E75L at 28,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 7:31 pm MDT (01:31 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the destination end, 38 nm northeast 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
- A320 descending, 1 nm north, 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC): overcast above 7,500 ft, remarks: braking action good during the descent runway 19. At the departure end, 1 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV JAC/TM 0054/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC075/RM BRAKING ACTION GOOD DURD RY19
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- over JAC
- Time
- 00:54 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- overcast from 7,500 ft
- Remarks
- braking action good during the descent runway 19
- UAL2395 at 37,000 ft, 8 nm east, 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC): no turbulence, wind 240° at 70 knots. 140 nm along the route, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2395 4135N 10900W 0058 F370 240/070KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- UAL796 at 30,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 6:09 pm MDT (00:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 230° at 42 knots. 250 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast 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
- C501 at 15,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 8:32 pm MDT (02:32 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -2 °C, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 45 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV JNC090020/TM 0232/FL150/TP C501/TA M02/TB INTMT LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- 20 nm east (090°) of JNC
- Time
- 02:32 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C501
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- LJ60 at 15,000 ft, 41 nm south, 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC): light to moderate icing from 16,500 ft to 19,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. At the destination end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MTJ UA /OV MTJ030030/TM 0028/FL150/TP LJ60/TA M13/IC LGT-MOD 190-165/RM DURD ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MTJ
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (030°) of MTJ
- Time
- 00:28 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ60
- Temperature
- −13 °C
- Icing
- light to moderate from 19,000 ft to 16,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
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 3 forecast points nearest it (LND, RKS, GJT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 35 kt | +21 kt | 6 °C | 99 kt | 2 h 50 min | 11:49 pm MDT (05:49 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 35 kt | +20 kt | 5 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 48 min | 11:47 pm MDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | +14 kt | 2 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 38 min | 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +13 kt | -2 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 37 min | 11:36 pm MDT (05:36 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +13 kt | -6 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 37 min | 11:36 pm MDT (05:36 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +14 kt | -10 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 38 min | 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | +14 kt | -11 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 38 min | 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 48 kt | +15 kt | -23 °C | 105 kt | 2 h 40 min | 11:39 pm MDT (05:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 54 kt | +22 kt | -28 °C | 98 kt | 2 h 51 min | 11:50 pm MDT (05:50 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 63 kt | +20 kt | -35 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 48 min | 11:47 pm MDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 62 kt | +14 kt | -45 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 38 min | 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LND | used from 0 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 100 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| GJT | used from 200 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAC Jackson, WY | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 6,451 ft | 8:56 pm MDT (02:56 UTC) |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 70 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 6,993 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 140 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 19 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 6,764 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| EEO Meeker, CO | 250 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| RIL Rifle, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 6,500 ft | 5,536 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:36 pm MDT (05:36 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for RIL
- From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- At times between Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for JAC, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, rain, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 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 JAC 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 UTC), at RIL 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 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: Jackson Hole Airport, Rifle Garfield County.