Plan a flight · Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC)

Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal MSN → COS

742 nautical miles (854 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 255°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 9:21 am MDT (15:21 UTC). Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 13 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 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 first 594 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the last 59 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 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 MSN.

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

A321 at 31,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. At the destination end, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:41 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
A21N at 33,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 1:59 am CDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
B38M at 37,000 ft, 42 nm west, 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. At the destination end, 42 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
55 nm west (280°) of PUB
Time
07:42 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
A320 at 31,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 47 nm northwest, 1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. At the destination end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
E170 at 22,500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13

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 7 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, MCW, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB). 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	230° at 39 kt	+37 kt	21 °C	83 kt	8 h 56 min	10:56 am MDT (16:56 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 35 kt	+34 kt	17 °C	86 kt	8 h 38 min	10:38 am MDT (16:38 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+26 kt	12 °C	94 kt	7 h 54 min	9:54 am MDT (15:54 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+21 kt	9 °C	99 kt	7 h 30 min	9:30 am MDT (15:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	+19 kt	5 °C	101 kt	7 h 21 min	9:21 am MDT (15:21 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+21 kt	1 °C	99 kt	7 h 30 min	9:30 am MDT (15:30 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	+23 kt	-4 °C	97 kt	7 h 39 min	9:39 am MDT (15:39 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-8 °C	96 kt	7 h 44 min	9:44 am MDT (15:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 30 kt	+31 kt	-20 °C	89 kt	8 h 20 min	10:20 am MDT (16:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 50 kt	+50 kt	-32 °C	70 kt	10 h 36 min	12:36 pm MDT (18:36 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 55 kt	+55 kt	-39 °C	65 kt	11 h 25 min	1:25 pm MDT (19:25 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 58 kt	+57 kt	-49 °C	63 kt	11 h 47 min	1:47 pm MDT (19:47 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
DBQ	used from 0 nm out; 52 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 148 nm out; 52 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 198 nm out; 38 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 247 nm out; 43 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°
GRI	used from 346 nm out; 49 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°
GLD	used from 495 nm out; 86 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
PUB	used from 693 nm out; 43 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°

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
MSN Madison, WI	departure	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC)
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	40 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
ALO Waterloo, IA	139 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	07:54 UTC
BNW Boone, IA	208 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	variable at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,160 ft	07:55 UTC
EFW Jefferson, IA	228 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	no report just now				1,047 ft
OMA Omaha, NE	307 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	07:52 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	416 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	07:53 UTC
EAR Kearney, NE	455 nm out, 0 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	2,131 ft	07:56 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	534 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	07:53 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	594 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	07:35 UTC
LIC Limon, CO	683 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,374 ft	07:55 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	1:54 am MDT (07:54 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, 9:21 am MDT (15:21 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for COS

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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

The forecast for MSN, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, 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 MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.