Chicago/Rockford International to Yampa Valley Airport RFD → HDN
822 nautical miles (946 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 269°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 12:29 pm MDT (18:29 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots; HDN is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 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 40 to 564 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, 505 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 139 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 119 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 109 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 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 RFD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 15 nm south, 2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 723 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
- Time
- 07:24 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- FL180-130
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 7 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF, 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 31 kt | +30 kt | 22 °C | 90 kt | 9 h 08 min | 1:09 pm MDT (19:09 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | +27 kt | 19 °C | 93 kt | 8 h 50 min | 12:51 pm MDT (18:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | +25 kt | 13 °C | 95 kt | 8 h 39 min | 12:40 pm MDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +24 kt | 9 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 34 min | 12:35 pm MDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +23 kt | 4 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 28 min | 12:29 pm MDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | +25 kt | 0 °C | 95 kt | 8 h 39 min | 12:40 pm MDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | +27 kt | -6 °C | 93 kt | 8 h 50 min | 12:51 pm MDT (18:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 31 kt | +28 kt | -9 °C | 92 kt | 8 h 56 min | 12:57 pm MDT (18:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 38 kt | +35 kt | -21 °C | 85 kt | 9 h 40 min | 1:41 pm MDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -33 °C | 72 kt | 11 h 25 min | 3:26 pm MDT (21:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 57 kt | +57 kt | -37 °C | 63 kt | 13 h 03 min | 5:04 pm MDT (23:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 59 kt | +60 kt | -47 °C | 60 kt | 13 h 42 min | 5:43 pm MDT (23:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| DSM | used from 149 nm out; 44 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; 50 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; 63 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° | |
| ONL | used from 446 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 545 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| DEN | used from 693 nm out; 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 69 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 119 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| MIW Marshalltown, IA | 168 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 974 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| DNS Denison, IA | 277 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,274 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 396 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,806 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| ODX Ord, NE | 446 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,070 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| OGA Ogallala, NE | 574 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3,279 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| SNY Sidney, NE | 624 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 19:53 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 703 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 15 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| SBS Steamboat Springs, CO | 802 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 6,882 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| HDN Hayden, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 6,606 ft | 3:56 am MDT (09:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,882 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HDN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:29 pm MDT (18:29 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,600 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for HDN
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, 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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at HDN 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 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
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, Yampa Valley Airport.