Charleston Executive to Rifle Garfield County JZI → RIL
1,399 nautical miles (1,610 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 295°, about 300° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 5:26 pm MDT (23:26 UTC). Right now JZI is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 5 knots; RIL is VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 6 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 190 to 240 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 220 to 260 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 250 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the route from 270 to 390 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 700 to 1130 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 190 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 160 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 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 40 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 JZI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A21N at 33,000 ft, 11 nm south, 2:59 am EDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 1249 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- over BRK
- Time
- 06:59 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
- B737 descending, 40 nm north, 4:10 am EDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1259 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 08:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- B737 descending, 40 nm north, 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 1259 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 07:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- smooth
- B38M at 37,000 ft, 41 nm south, 3:42 am EDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. 1289 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 55 nm west (280°) of PUB
- Time
- 07:42 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
- B38M at 22,000 ft, 10 nm south, 4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 1299 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 08:14 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zdvwc
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 16 forecast points nearest it (CHS, CAE, ATL, HSV, BNA, MEM, CGI, SGF, TUL, ICT, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB, DEN, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 22 °C | 99 kt | 14 h 08 min | 5:51 pm MDT (23:51 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 16 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 59 min | 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 13 h 51 min | 5:34 pm MDT (23:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 9 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 43 min | 5:26 pm MDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 5 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 43 min | 5:26 pm MDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 1 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 59 min | 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 14 h 17 min | 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 25 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 14 h 34 min | 6:17 pm MDT (00:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -19 °C | 94 kt | 14 h 53 min | 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 47 kt | +48 kt | -31 °C | 72 kt | 19 h 26 min | 11:09 pm MDT (05:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 50 kt | +52 kt | -38 °C | 68 kt | 20 h 34 min | 12:17 am MDT (06:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 44 kt | +46 kt | -49 °C | 74 kt | 18 h 54 min | 10:37 pm MDT (04:37 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS | used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 330/14 | 300/17 14° | 320/21 9° | 310/26 6° | 310/32 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 260/37 -32° | 280/30 -39° | 310/30 -50° |
| CAE | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 340/17 | 330/15 12° | 320/22 9° | 320/31 5° | 330/35 -7° | 320/33 -19° | 340/40 -32° | 350/43 -39° | 320/35 -49° |
| ATL | used from 150 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| HSV | used from 300 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| BNA | used from 400 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| MEM | used from 450 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| CGI | used from 550 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| SGF | used from 600 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| TUL | used from 800 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 230/42 | 250/23 17° | 220/16 14° | 240/10 8° | 240/20 -6° | 260/28 -17° | 270/61 -29° | 280/52 -38° | 290/46 -50° |
| ICT | used from 850 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| SLN | used from 950 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| GCK | used from 1000 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| GLD | used from 1100 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 1199 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| DEN | used from 1249 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GJT | used from 1349 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JZI Charleston, SC | departure | VFR | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 18 ft | 5:35 am EDT (09:35 UTC) |
| AGS Augusta, GA | 110 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 145 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 180 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| GZS Pulaski, TN | 380 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 688 ft | 09:15 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 480 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| BBG Branson, MO | 690 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,302 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| JLN Joplin, MO | 760 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 977 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 930 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 990 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 1249 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | 1359 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| RIL Rifle, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,536 ft | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 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, 5:26 pm MDT (23:26 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RIL
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 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 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
The forecast for JZI, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 1289 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at JZI 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC), at RIL 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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: Charleston Executive, Rifle Garfield County.