Plan a flight · Mon 10:37 am CDT (15:37 UTC)

Chicago Executive to Rocky Mountain Metro Airport PWK → BJC

790 nautical miles (909 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 266°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC). Right now PWK is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots; BJC is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 5 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 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 230 to 510 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 540 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 120 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 40 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 PWK.

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

urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 23 nm south, 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. At the destination end, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
over KAPA
Time
12:54 UTC
Height
at 6,700 ft
Aircraft
C172
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 23 nm south, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. At the destination end, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
over KAPA
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 6,800 ft
Aircraft
FA7X
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
B738 descending, 3 nm west, 10:20 am CDT (15:20 UTC): moderate turbulence from 12,000 ft to 18,000 ft. 740 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 30NE DEN/TM 1520/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 180-120
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30NE den
Time
15:20 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 18,000 ft to 12,000 ft
B38M at 12,000 ft, 21 nm south, 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft. 750 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN090025/TM 1407/FL120/TP B38M/TB MOD/RM 110-120
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm east (090°) of DEN
Time
14:07 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft
C172 at 7,500 ft, 27 nm south, 10:27 am CDT (15:27 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UA /OV APA100008/TM 1527/FL075/TP C172/TB CONT MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through APA
Where
8 nm east (100°) of APA
Time
15:27 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
continuous moderate
B737 at 21,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 9:05 am CDT (14:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. At the destination end, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN310025/TM 1405/FL210/TP B737/TB MOD TURB/RM MTN WAVE +30KTS 250-150 DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm northwest (310°) of DEN
Time
14:05 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Remarks
mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
B738 descending, 26 nm north, 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40NW den
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
B738 descending, 32 nm south, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40SW den
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
B39M at 36,000 ft, 7 nm north, 8:18 am CDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
C17 at 2,000 ft, 19 nm south, 10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC): overcast above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 1506/FL020/TP C17/SK OVC020/WV 23KT HEAD WIND/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L arrival
Time
15:06 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 2,000 ft
Wind
23 knots head wind
Remarks
during the descent
P46T at 31,000 ft, 46 nm north, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 200 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO270005/TM 1337/FL310/TP P46T/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
5 nm west (270°) of ALO
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
P46T
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
B38M at 17,000 ft, 24 nm south, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 400 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNK UA /OV LNK/TM 1241/FL170/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNK
Where
over LNK
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B38M at 39,000 ft, 19 nm south, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): light chop turbulence. 510 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HSI UA /OV HSI270030/TM 1243/FL390/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through HSI
Where
30 nm west (270°) of HSI
Time
12:43 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B738 at 38,000 ft, 19 nm north, 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-35. 580 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1309/FL380/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC-35
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBF
Where
over LBF
Time
13:09 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-35

7 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 (JOT, DBQ, 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	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	19 °C	95 kt	8 h 19 min	5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 28 kt	+27 kt	18 °C	93 kt	8 h 30 min	6:07 pm MDT (00:07 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 28 kt	+26 kt	13 °C	94 kt	8 h 24 min	6:01 pm MDT (00:01 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 31 kt	+29 kt	9 °C	91 kt	8 h 41 min	6:18 pm MDT (00:18 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 34 kt	+33 kt	5 °C	87 kt	9 h 05 min	6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 35 kt	+34 kt	0 °C	86 kt	9 h 11 min	6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-5 °C	85 kt	9 h 18 min	6:55 pm MDT (00:55 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 37 kt	+36 kt	-8 °C	84 kt	9 h 24 min	7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 46 kt	+45 kt	-21 °C	75 kt	10 h 32 min	8:09 pm MDT (02:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 63 kt	+64 kt	-31 °C	56 kt	14 h 06 min	11:43 pm MDT (05:43 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 72 kt	+73 kt	-37 °C	47 kt	16 h 49 min	2:26 am MDT (08:26 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 70 kt	+71 kt	-47 °C	49 kt	16 h 07 min	1:44 am MDT (07:44 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 36 nm from the line	230/30	250/26 16°	270/27 11°	280/34 5°	290/32 -8°	280/37 -21°	280/40 -36°	290/46 -37°	290/56 -47°
DBQ	used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line	250/26	240/32 19°	250/35 11°	260/37 5°	270/35 -9°	270/40 -21°	270/43 -35°	280/49 -37°	280/58 -46°
DSM	used from 200 nm out; 36 nm from the line	230/34	230/32 20°	220/33 12°	240/35 5°	250/39 -7°	250/43 -21°	280/61 -31°	280/73 -37°	280/67 -47°
OMA	used from 300 nm out; 37 nm from the line	210/23	240/34 20°	230/40 14°	220/43 7°	240/38 -8°	250/47 -21°	270/70 -29°	270/79 -36°	270/68 -48°
GRI	used from 400 nm out; 48 nm from the line		270/26 19°	230/33 13°	230/39 8°	230/43 -9°	240/55 -21°	250/76 -28°	260/84 -36°	260/68 -47°
GLD	used from 550 nm out; 99 nm from the line		240/22	250/24 13°	250/39 6°	230/42 -8°	230/55 -21°	240/87 -30°	240/96 -36°	250/93 -48°
DEN	used from 700 nm out; 47 nm from the line			230/7 11°	230/13 4°	230/40 -9°	230/48 -20°	240/66 -32°	240/88 -38°	230/100 -47°

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
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	departure	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	644 ft	9:52 am CDT (14:52 UTC)
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	50 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	14:54 UTC
SFY Savanna, IL	100 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	616 ft	15:15 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	170 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	14:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	260 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	25,000 ft	957 ft	14:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	360 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	14:52 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	470 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	14:53 UTC
CZD Cozad, NE	550 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				2,503 ft
IML Imperial, NE	630 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	14:53 UTC
AKO Akron, CO	700 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west (260°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	14:53 UTC
DEN Denver, CO	770 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	5,433 ft	14:53 UTC
BJC Denver, CO	destination	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,673 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BJC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for BJC

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
From Tue 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 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 PWK 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at BJC 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 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 Executive, Rocky Mountain Metro Airport.