Plan a flight · Sun 9:10 pm CDT (02:10 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field RFD → ASE

827 nautical miles (951 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 4:16 am MDT (10:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD 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 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 149 to 428 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 169 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 169 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 70 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 60 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 RFD.

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

UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 12 nm north, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 538 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 7 nm north, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 667 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 32,000 ft, 19 nm north, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 677 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 47 nm north, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 727 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
BCS1 at 24,000 ft, 20 nm north, 8:30 pm CDT (01:30 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. 747 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0130/FL240/TP BCS1/TB MOD 220-240/RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DVV
Time
01:30 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Turbulence
moderate from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
E75L at 28,000 ft, 50 nm north, 8:31 pm CDT (01:31 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the destination end, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR085036/TM 0131/FL280/TP E75L/TB MOD/RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
36 nm east (085°) of EKR
Time
01:31 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
C650 at 40,000 ft, 13 nm north, 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. At the destination end, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2348/FL400/TP C650/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
23:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
C650
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
A321 at 32,000 ft, 12 nm south, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the departure end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
B789 at 40,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 548 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 23 nm north, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 558 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B738 at 35,000 ft, 19 nm north, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. 677 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
ZDVWC-07
A320 at 8,000 ft, 5 nm south, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 687 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm east (080°) of DEN
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
E75L at 10,000 ft, 28 nm northwest, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 707 nm along the route, 28 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm north (350°) of DEN
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
light from the surface to 17,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B737 descending, 3 nm northwest, 8:23 pm CDT (01:23 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 717 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0123/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft

11 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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, 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	210° at 27 kt	+18 kt	19 °C	102 kt	8 h 06 min	4:16 am MDT (10:16 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+21 kt	17 °C	99 kt	8 h 21 min	4:31 am MDT (10:31 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 24 kt	+20 kt	13 °C	100 kt	8 h 16 min	4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+20 kt	10 °C	100 kt	8 h 16 min	4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+20 kt	5 °C	100 kt	8 h 16 min	4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	8 h 32 min	4:42 am MDT (10:42 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+26 kt	-4 °C	94 kt	8 h 48 min	4:58 am MDT (10:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 28 kt	+28 kt	-7 °C	92 kt	8 h 59 min	5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 32 kt	+32 kt	-19 °C	88 kt	9 h 24 min	5:34 am MDT (11:34 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 40 kt	+40 kt	-32 °C	80 kt	10 h 20 min	6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 49 kt	+50 kt	-40 °C	70 kt	11 h 49 min	7:59 am MDT (13:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 58 kt	+58 kt	-50 °C	62 kt	13 h 20 min	9:30 am MDT (15:30 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 49 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
DSM	used from 149 nm out; 35 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 249 nm out; 36 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
GRI	used from 349 nm out; 47 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
GLD	used from 498 nm out; 93 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
DEN	used from 647 nm out; 46 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°
GJT	used from 797 nm out; 92 nm from the line			210/40 11°	210/46 3°	210/61 -10°	210/68 -22°	220/57 -29°	230/59 -36°	240/66 -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
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)
DBQ Dubuque, IA	70 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	01:53 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	120 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	00:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	209 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	957 ft	01:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	309 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	01:52 UTC
AHQ Wahoo, NE	339 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,225 ft	01:55 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	418 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	01:53 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	578 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the east (100°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	01:53 UTC
AKO Akron, CO	647 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	01:53 UTC
CFO Denver, CO	717 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	01:55 UTC
LXV Leadville, CO	807 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	9,933 ft	01:53 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	7,500 ft	7,837 ft	7:53 pm MDT (01:53 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, 4:16 am MDT (10:16 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ASE

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 24, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 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 20,000 feet

The forecast for RFD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at ASE 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is before sunrise there (7:14 am MDT (13:14 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/Rockford International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.