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 8:24 am MDT (14:24 UTC). Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 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 route from 10 to 643 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 99 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 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 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 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
- 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 | 9:59 am MDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 35 kt | +34 kt | 17 °C | 86 kt | 8 h 38 min | 9:41 am MDT (15:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 12 °C | 94 kt | 7 h 54 min | 8:57 am MDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 9 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 30 min | 8:33 am MDT (14:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 5 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 21 min | 8:24 am MDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 1 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 30 min | 8:33 am MDT (14:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +23 kt | -4 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 39 min | 8:42 am MDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | +24 kt | -8 °C | 96 kt | 7 h 44 min | 8:47 am MDT (14:47 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 30 kt | +31 kt | -20 °C | 89 kt | 8 h 20 min | 9:23 am MDT (15:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -32 °C | 70 kt | 10 h 36 min | 11:39 am MDT (17:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 55 kt | +55 kt | -39 °C | 65 kt | 11 h 25 min | 12:28 pm MDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 58 kt | +57 kt | -49 °C | 63 kt | 11 h 47 min | 12:50 pm MDT (18:50 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 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 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 (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| BNW Boone, IA | 208 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,160 ft | 06:55 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 | 06:52 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 | 06:53 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 | 06:56 UTC |
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 534 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 594 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 683 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 12:54 am MDT (06:54 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, 8:24 am MDT (14:24 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
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.