Plan a flight · Mon 9:50 am CDT (14:50 UTC)

General Mitchell International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field MKE → ASE

885 nautical miles (1,019 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 6:09 pm MDT (00:09 UTC). Right now MKE is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots; ASE is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18. 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). Near the route, 368 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 537 nm along 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 209 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 0 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 MKE.

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

urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 13 nm south, 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. 786 nm along the route, 13 nm south 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, 13 nm south, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. 786 nm along the route, 13 nm south 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, 14 nm south, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. 786 nm along the route, 14 nm south 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
B38M at 12,000 ft, 13 nm southeast, 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft. 756 nm along the route, 13 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN090025/TM 1407/FL120/TP B38M/TB MOD/RM 110-120
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm east (090°) of DEN
Time
14:07 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft
B737 at 21,000 ft, 21 nm north, 9:05 am CDT (14:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. 786 nm along the route, 21 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN310025/TM 1405/FL210/TP B737/TB MOD TURB/RM MTN WAVE +30KTS 250-150 DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm northwest (310°) of DEN
Time
14:05 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Remarks
mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
B738 descending, 37 nm northwest, 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 786 nm along the route, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40NW den
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
C172 at 200 ft, 12 nm south, 7:35 am CDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. 786 nm along the route, 12 nm south 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
B737 at 16,000 ft, 37 nm north, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 786 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320040/TM 1223/FL160/TP B737/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
C172 at 9,500 ft, 47 nm southeast, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 796 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast 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
B738 descending, 14 nm south, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 815 nm along the route, 14 nm south 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
B39M at 36,000 ft, 43 nm south, 8:18 am CDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
C510 at 17,000 ft, 31 nm north, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 99 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV LNR/TM 1327/FL170/TP C510/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over LNR
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
C510
Turbulence
none
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 31 nm north, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 99 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV 0WI4/TM 1327/FL200/TP PC12/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over 0WI4
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
none
B752 at 34,000 ft, 3 nm west, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 139 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DBQ UA /OV DBQ300020/TM 1223/FL340/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DBQ
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of DBQ
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
occasional light chop

15 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 8 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, 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	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	19 °C	95 kt	9 h 19 min	6:09 pm MDT (00:09 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 28 kt	+27 kt	18 °C	93 kt	9 h 31 min	6:21 pm MDT (00:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	13 °C	95 kt	9 h 19 min	6:09 pm MDT (00:09 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+28 kt	9 °C	92 kt	9 h 37 min	6:27 pm MDT (00:27 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 32 kt	+31 kt	5 °C	89 kt	9 h 57 min	6:47 pm MDT (00:47 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 34 kt	+33 kt	0 °C	87 kt	10 h 10 min	7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-5 °C	85 kt	10 h 25 min	7:15 pm MDT (01:15 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 37 kt	+37 kt	-9 °C	83 kt	10 h 40 min	7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 46 kt	+46 kt	-21 °C	74 kt	11 h 58 min	8:48 pm MDT (02:48 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 62 kt	+63 kt	-31 °C	57 kt	15 h 32 min	12:22 am MDT (06:22 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 73 kt	+73 kt	-37 °C	47 kt	18 h 50 min	3:40 am MDT (09:40 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 70 kt	+72 kt	-47 °C	48 kt	18 h 26 min	3:16 am MDT (09:16 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

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; 83 nm from the line	230/30	250/26 16°	270/27 11°	280/34 5°	290/32 -8°	280/37 -21°	280/40 -36°	290/46 -37°	290/56 -47°
DBQ	used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line	250/26	240/32 19°	250/35 11°	260/37 5°	270/35 -9°	270/40 -21°	270/43 -35°	280/49 -37°	280/58 -46°
MCW	used from 199 nm out; 55 nm from the line	220/19	210/29 20°	230/35 13°	250/35 5°	250/33 -9°	260/44 -21°	260/46 -33°	270/58 -37°	270/59 -46°
DSM	used from 249 nm out; 39 nm from the line	230/34	230/32 20°	220/33 12°	240/35 5°	250/39 -7°	250/43 -21°	280/61 -31°	280/73 -37°	280/67 -47°
OMA	used from 298 nm out; 54 nm from the line	210/23	240/34 20°	230/40 14°	220/43 7°	240/38 -8°	250/47 -21°	270/70 -29°	270/79 -36°	270/68 -48°
GRI	used from 398 nm out; 60 nm from the line		270/26 19°	230/33 13°	230/39 8°	230/43 -9°	240/55 -21°	250/76 -28°	260/84 -36°	260/68 -47°
GLD	used from 597 nm out; 78 nm from the line		240/22	250/24 13°	250/39 6°	230/42 -8°	230/55 -21°	240/87 -30°	240/96 -36°	250/93 -48°
DEN	used from 696 nm out; 55 nm from the line			230/7 11°	230/13 4°	230/40 -9°	230/48 -20°	240/66 -32°	240/88 -38°	230/100 -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
MKE Milwaukee, WI	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	728 ft	8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC)
JVL Janesville, WI	50 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 23,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	807 ft	14:45 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	129 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	13:53 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	199 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	13:54 UTC
CIN Carroll, IA	308 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21	9 mi	none	1,203 ft	14:35 UTC
SCB Scribner, NE	398 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				1,324 ft
GRI Grand Island, NE	477 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	13:53 UTC
GTE Gothenburg, NE	557 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				2,558 ft
AKO Akron, CO	706 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	13:53 UTC
DEN Denver, CO	776 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	5,433 ft	13:53 UTC
LXV Leadville, CO	865 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	9,933 ft	13:53 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,600 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	7,837 ft	7:53 am MDT (13:53 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, 6:09 pm MDT (00:09 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ASE

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 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 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet

The forecast for MKE, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 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

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: General Mitchell International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.