General Mitchell International to Northern Colorado Regional MKE → FNL
780 nautical miles (898 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 269° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 7:28 am MDT (13:28 UTC). Right now MKE is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots; FNL is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) 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: 3 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 3W: 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 79 to 681 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 69 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). Near the route, at the destination end.
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
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 32 nm west, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. At the destination end, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
- A320 descending, 42 nm southeast, 10:19 pm CDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the destination end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 03:19 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, DSM, OMA, ONL, GRI, BFF, 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 | 220° at 30 kt | +24 kt | 20 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 08 min | 7:57 am MDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +23 kt | 17 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 02 min | 7:51 am MDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +20 kt | 12 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 48 min | 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 9 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 43 min | 7:32 am MDT (13:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 5 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 39 min | 7:28 am MDT (13:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 0 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 53 min | 7:42 am MDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +23 kt | -4 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 02 min | 7:51 am MDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | +25 kt | -8 °C | 95 kt | 8 h 13 min | 8:02 am MDT (14:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | +30 kt | -20 °C | 90 kt | 8 h 40 min | 8:29 am MDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -33 °C | 80 kt | 9 h 45 min | 9:34 am MDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -40 °C | 70 kt | 11 h 09 min | 10:58 am MDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 57 kt | +57 kt | -49 °C | 63 kt | 12 h 23 min | 12:12 pm MDT (18:12 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 84 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 49 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| MCW | used from 198 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| DSM | used from 247 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 296 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| ONL | used from 395 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| GRI | used from 494 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 593 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 741 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° |
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 broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 728 ft | 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC) |
| JVL Janesville, WI | 49 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 807 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 128 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 198 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| IFA Iowa Falls, IA | 237 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,137 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 375 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 454 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,806 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ODX Ord, NE | 494 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,070 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LBF North Platte, NE | 583 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,777 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CNP Chappell, NE | 662 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,681 ft | ||||
| GXY Greeley, CO | 761 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,696 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | destination | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 10:56 pm MDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,020 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FNL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:28 am MDT (13:28 UTC)
FNL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for MKE, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 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 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 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 MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at FNL 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 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: General Mitchell International, Northern Colorado Regional.