Manhattan Regional to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field MHK → ASE
474 nautical miles (546 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 274°, about 270° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC). Right now MHK is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots; ASE is VFR, wind variable at 4 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: 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 188 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 route from 296 to 376 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 158 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 109 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 MHK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 43 nm north, 6:24 am CDT (11:24 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. 405 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN277039/TM 1124/FL210/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP BLO 180 NEG ABV 180/RM DURC. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 39 nm west (277°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:24 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop below 18,000 ft no above 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zdvwc
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 43 nm north, 5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 405 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- 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 4 forecast points nearest it (SLN, GLD, 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 | 250° at 40 kt | +36 kt | 84 kt | 5 h 39 min | 11:12 am MDT (17:12 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 36 kt | +33 kt | 21 °C | 87 kt | 5 h 27 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 13 °C | 96 kt | 4 h 56 min | 10:29 am MDT (16:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 44 min | 10:17 am MDT (16:17 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +18 kt | 5 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 39 min | 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +23 kt | 0 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 53 min | 10:26 am MDT (16:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +28 kt | -5 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 09 min | 10:42 am MDT (16:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 41 kt | +32 kt | -8 °C | 88 kt | 5 h 23 min | 10:56 am MDT (16:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 47 kt | +37 kt | -21 °C | 83 kt | 5 h 43 min | 11:16 am MDT (17:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 69 kt | +63 kt | -30 °C | 57 kt | 8 h 19 min | 1:52 pm MDT (19:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 75 kt | +72 kt | -36 °C | 48 kt | 9 h 52 min | 3:25 pm MDT (21:25 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 70 kt | +66 kt | -48 °C | 54 kt | 8 h 47 min | 2:20 pm MDT (20:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLN | used from 0 nm out; 31 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° |
| GLD | used from 148 nm out; 61 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° | |
| DEN | used from 296 nm out; 61 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 445 nm out; 92 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHK Manhattan, KS | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC) |
| SLN Salina, KS | 40 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CNK Concordia, KS | 49 nm out, 22 nm north of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (180°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| RCP Stockton, KS | 119 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,999 ft | ||||
| HLC Hill City, KS | 148 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,238 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| GLD Goodland, KS | 237 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,657 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ITR Burlington, CO | 257 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,218 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 326 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| APA Denver, CO | 376 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,884 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| LXV Leadville, CO | 445 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 9,933 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 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, 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC)
Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 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 6,000 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 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
The forecast for MHK, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 16, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
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 16 nm from the route, 405 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at MHK 6:52 pm CDT (23:52 UTC), at ASE 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 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: Manhattan Regional, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.