Plan a flight · Sun 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field MDW → ASE

884 nautical miles (1,018 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 266°, about 270° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 2:44 am MDT (08:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; ASE is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 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: 16 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

SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 20 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
CO NM AZ UT
FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE
AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 209 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 129 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 30 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 10 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 MDW.

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

urgent E545 at 6,000 ft, 4 nm southwest, 4:49 pm CDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. 785 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV APA350002/TM 2149/FL060/TP E545/RM LLWS +/- 5 KT FAP RWY 17L
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
2 nm north (350°) of APA
Time
21:49 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E545
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 13 nm north, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 725 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 32,000 ft, 24 nm north, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 735 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 27 nm south, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 785 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 40 nm south, 5:02 pm CDT (22:02 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb from KDEN from 12,000 ft to 19,000 ft ZDVWC-41. 805 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK262015/TM 2202/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB MOD CHOP/RM DURC FROM KDEN 120-190 ZDVWC-41
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm west (262°) of BRK
Time
22:02 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
during the climb from KDEN from 12,000 ft to 19,000 ft ZDVWC-41
C700 at 16,000 ft, 17 nm north, 4:55 pm CDT (21:55 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV WERNR/TM 2155/FL160/TP C700/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
wernr
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
C700
Turbulence
moderate
C650 at 40,000 ft, 13 nm north, 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the destination end, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2348/FL400/TP C650/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
23:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
C650
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
C680A at 16,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 5:59 pm CDT (22:59 UTC): moderate turbulence, scattered clouds above 16,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV HAERI/TM 2259/FL160/TP C680A/SK SCT160/TB CONS MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
haeri
Time
22:59 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
C680A
Sky
scattered clouds from 16,000 ft
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Remarks
during the descent
C680 at 18,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft. At the destination end, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV ASE230020/TM 2235/FL180/TP C680/TB MOD/RM 180-100
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
20 nm southwest (230°) of ASE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C680
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft
LJ40 at 19,000 ft, 10 nm west, 4:32 pm CDT (21:32 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 10 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV ASE240010/TM 2132/FL190/TP LJ40/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
10 nm southwest (240°) of ASE
Time
21:32 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
LJ40
Turbulence
moderate
B737 at 36,000 ft, 13 nm north, 4:28 pm CDT (21:28 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2128/FL360/TP B737/TB MOD/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
21:28 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
zdvwc
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
A319 at 15,000 ft, 47 nm east, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through PPO
Where
over PPO
Time
22:08 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
C17 at 500 ft, 3 nm northwest, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L arrival
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 (JOT, DBQ, BRL, DSM, 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	210° at 25 kt	+16 kt	19 °C	104 kt	8 h 30 min	2:44 am MDT (08:44 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	+19 kt	17 °C	101 kt	8 h 45 min	2:59 am MDT (08:59 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	+18 kt	13 °C	102 kt	8 h 40 min	2:54 am MDT (08:54 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	+18 kt	10 °C	102 kt	8 h 40 min	2:54 am MDT (08:54 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	+19 kt	5 °C	101 kt	8 h 45 min	2:59 am MDT (08:59 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	+22 kt	1 °C	98 kt	9 h 01 min	3:15 am MDT (09:15 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	9 h 18 min	3:32 am MDT (09:32 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 27 kt	+27 kt	-7 °C	93 kt	9 h 30 min	3:44 am MDT (09:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 30 kt	+30 kt	-19 °C	90 kt	9 h 49 min	4:03 am MDT (10:03 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 38 kt	+39 kt	-33 °C	81 kt	10 h 55 min	5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 48 kt	+50 kt	-40 °C	70 kt	12 h 38 min	6:52 am MDT (12:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 56 kt	+56 kt	-50 °C	64 kt	13 h 49 min	8:03 am MDT (14:03 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 15 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
DBQ	used from 99 nm out; 48 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
BRL	used from 149 nm out; 50 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 43 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 298 nm out; 45 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
GRI	used from 397 nm out; 57 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
GLD	used from 546 nm out; 94 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
DEN	used from 695 nm out; 57 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°

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
MDW Chicago, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	23:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	129 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	23:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	179 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	869 ft	21:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	268 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	23:54 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	407 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	23:54 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	477 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	23:53 UTC
CSB Cambridge, NE	566 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	9 mi	none	2,414 ft	23:55 UTC
RYA Wray, CO	666 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				3,677 ft
CFO Denver, CO	775 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	23:47 UTC
LXV Leadville, CO	864 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	9,933 ft	23:53 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,500 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	7,837 ft	5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 9,933 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ASE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:44 am MDT (08:44 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ASE

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 24, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

The forecast for MDW, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 MDW 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC), at ASE 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is before sunrise there (7:14 am MDT (13:14 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Chicago Midway International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.