The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC)

Kansas City International to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal MCI → COS

466 nautical miles (537 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 1:01 pm MDT (19:01 UTC). Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25; COS is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25. 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: 6 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

  • 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 first 208 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 89 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 20 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 MCI.

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

  • urgent B763 at 2,000 ft, 21 nm south, 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 40 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FOE UUA /OV 130003/TM 1157/FL020/TP B763/WV LLWS
    Report
    an urgent report filed through FOE
    Where
    wind from 130° at 3 knots
    Time
    11:57 UTC
    Height
    at 2,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B763
    Wind
    low-level wind shear
  • urgent E75L at 6,600 ft, 0 nm southwest, 9:08 am CDT (14:08 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 25-knot gain of airspeed during the climb 17L. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    COS UUA /OV COS/TM 1408/FL066/TP E75L/TB LGT/RM LLWS +25KTS DURC 17L
    Report
    an urgent report filed through COS
    Where
    over COS
    Time
    14:08 UTC
    Height
    at 6,600 ft
    Aircraft
    E75L
    Turbulence
    light
    Remarks
    low-level wind shear a 25-knot gain of airspeed during the climb 17L
  • urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 46 nm north, 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. At the destination end, 46 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
    Report
    an urgent report filed through APA
    Where
    over KAPA
    Time
    12:54 UTC
    Height
    at 6,700 ft
    Aircraft
    C172
    Remarks
    low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
  • urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 46 nm north, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. At the destination end, 46 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
    Report
    an urgent report filed through APA
    Where
    over KAPA
    Time
    12:40 UTC
    Height
    at 6,800 ft
    Aircraft
    FA7X
    Remarks
    low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
  • urgent TBM7 at 100 ft, 45 nm north, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. At the destination end, 45 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    APA UUA /OV APA140001/TM 1230/FL001/TP TBM7/TB LGT CHOP/RM LLWS +-10KTS
    Report
    an urgent report filed through APA
    Where
    1 nm southeast (140°) of APA
    Time
    12:30 UTC
    Height
    at 100 ft
    Aircraft
    TBM7
    Turbulence
    light chop
    Remarks
    low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed
  • B738 descending, 47 nm northwest, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
    Report
    a routine report filed through DEN
    Where
    40SW den
    Time
    12:55 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    B738
    Turbulence
    moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
  • C172 at 9,500 ft, 14 nm north, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 14 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    COS UA /OV BRK348/005/TM 1243/FL095/TP C172/TB TB MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through COS
    Where
    BRK348/005
    Time
    12:43 UTC
    Height
    at 9,500 ft
    Aircraft
    C172
    Turbulence
    turbulence moderate chop
  • C172 at 200 ft, 47 nm north, 7:35 am CDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. At the destination end, 47 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    APA UA /OV APA350001/TM 1235/FL002/TP C172/TB MOD TURB/RM LLWS +-15KTS
    Report
    a routine report filed through APA
    Where
    1 nm north (350°) of APA
    Time
    12:35 UTC
    Height
    at 200 ft
    Aircraft
    C172
    Turbulence
    moderate turbulence
    Remarks
    low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed
  • PC12 at 22,000 ft, 8 nm south, 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj. 89 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    MHK UA /OV MHK/TM 1200/FL220/TP PC12/TA M09/IC LGT RIME/RM NEG ICING AT FL200 /ZKCFDC XJ
    Report
    a routine report filed through MHK
    Where
    over MHK
    Time
    12:00 UTC
    Height
    at 22,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Temperature
    −9 °C
    Icing
    light rime
    Remarks
    no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj
  • B737 at 17,000 ft, 25 nm north, 7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, vfr; clear up to 60,000 ft, remarks: not bad for denver. At the destination end, 25 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DEN UA /OV DEN170035/TM 1224/FL170/TP B737/SK VFR/WX SKC/TA UNK/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM NOT BAD FOR DENVER
    Report
    a routine report filed through DEN
    Where
    35 nm south (170°) of DEN
    Time
    12:24 UTC
    Height
    at 17,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Sky
    vfr
    Weather
    clear sky
    Temperature
    UNK
    Turbulence
    none
    Icing
    none
    Remarks
    not bad for denver
  • C172 at 7,800 ft, 41 nm north, 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 41 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    APA UA /OV APA150006/TM 1357/FL078/TP C172/TB LGT-MOD CHOP
    Report
    a routine report filed through APA
    Where
    6 nm southeast (150°) of APA
    Time
    13:57 UTC
    Height
    at 7,800 ft
    Aircraft
    C172
    Turbulence
    light to moderate chop
  • B737 descending, 49 nm north, 8:26 am CDT (13:26 UTC): light chop turbulence from 16,000 ft to 23,000 ft, wind 235° at 53 knots. At the destination end, 49 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DEN UA /OV 25SW DEN/TM 1326/FLDURD/TP B737/WV 235/53/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 230-160
    Report
    a routine report filed through DEN
    Where
    25SW den
    Time
    13:26 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    B737
    Wind
    235/53
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop from 23,000 ft to 16,000 ft
  • B737 at 13,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    COS UA /OV BRK082/11/TM 1300/FL130/TP B737/TB TB LGT
    Report
    a routine report filed through COS
    Where
    BRK082/11
    Time
    13:00 UTC
    Height
    at 13,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Turbulence
    turbulence light
  • UAL1735 at 19,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 6:50 am CDT (11:50 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 237° at 58 knots. At the destination end, 50 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ARP UAL1735 3925N 10525W 1150 F190 237/058KT TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
    Report
    a routine report filed through ARP

1 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GLD, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft230° at 27 kt+23 kt97 kt4 h 48 min1:01 pm MDT (19:01 UTC)
6,500 ft250° at 30 kt+28 kt21 °C92 kt5 h 04 min1:17 pm MDT (19:17 UTC)
8,500 ft240° at 31 kt+29 kt14 °C91 kt5 h 07 min1:20 pm MDT (19:20 UTC)
10,500 ft240° at 35 kt+32 kt10 °C88 kt5 h 18 min1:31 pm MDT (19:31 UTC)
12,500 ft240° at 38 kt+35 kt5 °C85 kt5 h 29 min1:42 pm MDT (19:42 UTC)
14,500 ft240° at 39 kt+35 kt0 °C85 kt5 h 29 min1:42 pm MDT (19:42 UTC)
16,500 ft240° at 40 kt+35 kt-4 °C85 kt5 h 29 min1:42 pm MDT (19:42 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 41 kt+36 kt-8 °C84 kt5 h 33 min1:46 pm MDT (19:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 51 kt+44 kt-20 °C76 kt6 h 08 min2:21 pm MDT (20:21 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300250° at 77 kt+75 kt-29 °C45 kt10 h 21 min6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 82 kt+79 kt-36 °C41 kt11 h 22 min7:35 pm MDT (01:35 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 78 kt+78 kt-48 °C42 kt11 h 06 min7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
MKCused from 0 nm out; 32 nm from the line220/35240/30 21°240/27 13°240/31 6°260/31 -7°250/43 -21°270/70 -28°280/72 -36°280/59 -49°
SLNused from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line210/26250/36 22°240/39 14°240/38 7°240/42 -9°240/49 -20°260/75 -27°260/76 -36°270/71 -48°
GLDused from 248 nm out; 55 nm from the line240/22250/24 13°250/39 6°230/42 -8°230/55 -21°240/87 -30°240/96 -36°250/93 -48°
PUBused from 397 nm out; 50 nm from the line250/31 11°240/42 5°230/46 -7°230/59 -20°240/77 -30°230/94 -37°240/95 -49°

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
MCI Kansas City, MO departure VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 10+ mi 20,000 ft 1,027 ft 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
TOP Topeka, KS 40 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15 10+ mi none 881 ft 13:53 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS 89 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21 10+ mi none 1,066 ft 13:52 UTC
CYW Clay Center, KS 109 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line no report just now 1,208 ft
RCP Stockton, KS 208 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line no report just now 1,999 ft
HLC Hill City, KS 238 nm out, 14 nm north of the line VFR from the west (260°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 10+ mi none 2,238 ft 13:53 UTC
OEL Oakley, KS 288 nm out, 4 nm east of the line VFR from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16 10+ mi none 3,045 ft 13:55 UTC
ITR Burlington, CO 347 nm out, 15 nm north of the line VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 4,218 ft 13:53 UTC
LIC Limon, CO 417 nm out, 23 nm north of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 5,374 ft 13:55 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 10+ mi none 6,187 ft 7:54 am MDT (13:54 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, 1:01 pm MDT (19:01 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for COS
  • From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
  • 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
  • From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MCI, the departure
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 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 MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 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 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 now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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: Kansas City International, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.