Plan a flight · Mon 12:34 am CDT (05:34 UTC)

Eppley Airfield to Rifle Garfield County OMA → RIL

551 nautical miles (634 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 26-knot headwind), arriving about 5:26 am MDT (11:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now OMA is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots; RIL is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) 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: 2 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 325 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 256 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 207 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 108 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 OMA.

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

urgent B737 at 7,600 ft, 49 nm north, 10:22 pm CDT (03:22 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 45 knots crosswind on final. 512 nm along the route, 49 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HDN UUA /OV HDN/TM 0322/FL076/TP B737/RM LLWS 45 KTS CROSSWIND ON FINAL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through HDN
Where
over HDN
Time
03:22 UTC
Height
at 7,600 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
low-level wind shear 45 knots crosswind on final
urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 28 nm southeast, 11:30 pm CDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 521 nm along the route, 28 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
A320 descending, 18 nm southeast, 10:19 pm CDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 413 nm along the route, 18 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
B38M at 21,500 ft, 36 nm north, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 443 nm along the route, 36 nm north 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
E170 at 22,500 ft, 49 nm south, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 453 nm along the route, 49 nm south 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
CL35 at 41,000 ft, 13 nm northwest, 9:40 pm CDT (02:40 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-50FT a 15-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-05. 482 nm along the route, 13 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG/TM 0240/FL410/TP CL35/RM MTW +/-50FT +/-15KT ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
over RLG
Time
02:40 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Remarks
mtw +/-50FT a 15-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-05
BE20 at 16,000 ft, 0 nm east, 10:28 pm CDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. At the destination end, 0 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIL
Where
over RIL
Time
03:28 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−3 °C
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
light rime
Remarks
ZDVWC-11
UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 23 nm south, 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. At the destination end, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

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 5 forecast points nearest it (OMA, GRI, 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	230° at 42 kt	+36 kt	21 °C	84 kt	6 h 34 min	6:08 am MDT (12:08 UTC)
6,500 ft	230° at 39 kt	+34 kt	20 °C	86 kt	6 h 24 min	5:58 am MDT (11:58 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+26 kt	13 °C	94 kt	5 h 52 min	5:26 am MDT (11:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+26 kt	10 °C	94 kt	5 h 52 min	5:26 am MDT (11:26 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+27 kt	5 °C	93 kt	5 h 55 min	5:29 am MDT (11:29 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+27 kt	0 °C	93 kt	5 h 55 min	5:29 am MDT (11:29 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	+28 kt	-4 °C	92 kt	5 h 59 min	5:33 am MDT (11:33 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 32 kt	+28 kt	-8 °C	92 kt	5 h 59 min	5:33 am MDT (11:33 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 39 kt	+34 kt	-21 °C	86 kt	6 h 24 min	5:58 am MDT (11:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 54 kt	+51 kt	-31 °C	69 kt	7 h 59 min	7:33 am MDT (13:33 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 58 kt	+57 kt	-36 °C	63 kt	8 h 45 min	8:19 am MDT (14:19 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 54 kt	+53 kt	-46 °C	67 kt	8 h 13 min	7:47 am MDT (13:47 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
OMA	used from 0 nm out; 25 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 49 nm out; 37 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 197 nm out; 93 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°
DEN	used from 344 nm out; 43 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°
GJT	used from 492 nm out; 78 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -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
OMA Omaha, NE	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC)
LNK Lincoln, NE	39 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	04:54 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	108 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	04:53 UTC
EAR Kearney, NE	148 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	2,131 ft	04:56 UTC
CZD Cozad, NE	187 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				2,503 ft
IML Imperial, NE	266 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	04:53 UTC
HEQ Holyoke, CO	295 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	3,729 ft	05:15 UTC
FMM Fort Morgan, CO	364 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	none	4,595 ft	05:15 UTC
BJC Denver, CO	433 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	05:15 UTC
GNB Granby, CO	462 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	8,207 ft	05:15 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	512 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the west (280°) at 10 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	9,000 ft	6,547 ft	04:56 UTC
RIL Rifle, CO	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	5,536 ft	10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 8,207 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:26 am MDT (11:26 UTC)

Wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RIL

From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet

The forecast for OMA, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 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 OMA 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC), at RIL 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 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 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: Eppley Airfield, Rifle Garfield County.