Plan a flight · Mon 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC)

General Downing - Peoria International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field PIA → ASE

794 nautical miles (914 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 269°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC). Right now PIA is VFR, wind calm; ASE is VFR, wind calm. 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 2W: 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 60 to 546 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 139 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 119 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 109 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.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. 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 PIA.

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

B737 descending, 15 nm north, 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 685 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
B737 descending, 15 nm north, 2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 685 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
A21N at 33,000 ft, 36 nm south, 1:59 am CDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 695 nm along the route, 36 nm south 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 22,000 ft, 19 nm south, 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 734 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
08:14 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, 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	250° at 34 kt	+32 kt	23 °C	88 kt	9 h 01 min	12:42 pm MDT (18:42 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 28 kt	+27 kt	19 °C	93 kt	8 h 32 min	12:13 pm MDT (18:13 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+22 kt	13 °C	98 kt	8 h 06 min	11:47 am MDT (17:47 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+20 kt	9 °C	100 kt	7 h 56 min	11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	+20 kt	4 °C	100 kt	7 h 56 min	11:37 am MDT (17:37 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+24 kt	0 °C	96 kt	8 h 16 min	11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 30 kt	+27 kt	-5 °C	93 kt	8 h 32 min	12:13 pm MDT (18:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 33 kt	+30 kt	-8 °C	90 kt	8 h 49 min	12:30 pm MDT (18:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 43 kt	+40 kt	-20 °C	80 kt	9 h 56 min	1:37 pm MDT (19:37 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 55 kt	+54 kt	-32 °C	66 kt	12 h 02 min	3:43 pm MDT (21:43 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 67 kt	+67 kt	-37 °C	53 kt	14 h 59 min	6:40 pm MDT (00:40 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 64 kt	+65 kt	-47 °C	55 kt	14 h 26 min	6:07 pm MDT (00:07 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
BRL	used from 0 nm out; 41 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DSM	used from 149 nm out; 59 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
OMA	used from 248 nm out; 52 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
GRI	used from 347 nm out; 45 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
GLD	used from 447 nm out; 91 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
DEN	used from 596 nm out; 69 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°

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
PIA Peoria, IL	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	660 ft	3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC)
FSW Fort Madison, IA	69 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	721 ft	09:35 UTC
TVK Centerville, IA	149 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,023 ft	09:15 UTC
LWD Lamoni, IA	189 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,130 ft	08:53 UTC
AFK Nebraska City, NE	278 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,165 ft	09:35 UTC
BIE Beatrice, NE	328 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,323 ft	09:35 UTC
CSB Cambridge, NE	476 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots	7 mi	none	2,414 ft	09:15 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	496 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	08:53 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	556 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	09:35 UTC
APA Denver, CO	695 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	5,884 ft	08:53 UTC
LXV Leadville, CO	764 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	9,933 ft	08:53 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	9,000 ft	7,837 ft	2:53 am MDT (08:53 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, 11:37 am MDT (17:37 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 PIA, 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 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, 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 PIA 6:23 pm CDT (23:23 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 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: General Downing - Peoria International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.