Plan a flight · Mon 1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field ORD → ASE

878 nautical miles (1,011 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 9:10 am MDT (15:10 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 knots; ASE is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 4 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: 2,099 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 120 to 689 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 210 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 180 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 80 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 ORD.

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

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 11:30 pm CDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast 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, 6 nm northwest, 10:19 pm CDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 768 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest 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
E170 at 22,500 ft, 23 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. 818 nm along the route, 23 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
BE20 at 16,000 ft, 44 nm northwest, 10:28 pm CDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. At the destination end, 44 nm northwest 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
B733 at 20,000 ft, 47 nm south, 10:16 pm CDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. At the destination end, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
over HBU
Time
03:16 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B733
Sky
clear
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-12

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, BRL, DSM, 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 36 kt	+33 kt	21 °C	87 kt	10 h 06 min	10:18 am MDT (16:18 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 33 kt	+31 kt	17 °C	89 kt	9 h 52 min	10:04 am MDT (16:04 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+23 kt	12 °C	97 kt	9 h 03 min	9:15 am MDT (15:15 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	+22 kt	9 °C	98 kt	8 h 58 min	9:10 am MDT (15:10 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	+22 kt	5 °C	98 kt	8 h 58 min	9:10 am MDT (15:10 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+24 kt	0 °C	96 kt	9 h 09 min	9:21 am MDT (15:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	9 h 15 min	9:27 am MDT (15:27 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 27 kt	+27 kt	-8 °C	93 kt	9 h 26 min	9:38 am MDT (15:38 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 33 kt	+32 kt	-20 °C	88 kt	9 h 59 min	10:11 am MDT (16:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 47 kt	+46 kt	-32 °C	74 kt	11 h 52 min	12:04 pm MDT (18:04 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 54 kt	+54 kt	-38 °C	66 kt	13 h 18 min	1:30 pm MDT (19:30 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 55 kt	+56 kt	-48 °C	64 kt	13 h 43 min	1:55 pm MDT (19:55 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; 29 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 50 nm out; 60 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°
BRL	used from 150 nm out; 62 nm from the line	230/24	240/29 15°	290/16 10°	280/15 4°	260/23 -7°	260/32 -19°	260/36 -33°	280/48 -41°	280/59 -52°
DSM	used from 200 nm out; 35 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 299 nm out; 36 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 399 nm out; 48 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 549 nm out; 89 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 699 nm out; 47 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 848 nm out; 92 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
ORD Chicago, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	20 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	05:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	170 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	02:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	259 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	05:54 UTC
AIO Atlantic, IA	319 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,164 ft	05:55 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	359 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	05:52 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	469 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	05:53 UTC
LXN Lexington, NE	539 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	2,412 ft	05:55 UTC
RYA Wray, CO	659 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,677 ft
CFO Denver, CO	768 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 24 knots, gusting to 31	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	05:55 UTC
LXV Leadville, CO	858 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	9,933 ft	05:53 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	7,837 ft	11:53 pm MDT (05:53 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, 9:10 am MDT (15:10 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 VFR

The whole forecast for ASE

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 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 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet

The forecast for ORD, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 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: Chicago O'Hare International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.