The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC)

Richmond International to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal RIC → COS

1,290 nautical miles (1,485 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 282°, about 292° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC). Right now RIC is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 5 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 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: 3 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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

  • SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 30 to 109 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120455
    MKCE WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
    FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
  • SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 0 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS32 KKCI 120455
    MKCC WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    TX OK CO NM
    FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 486 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 89 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 79 to 159 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 89 to 248 nm out.
  • 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 715 to 1201 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 69 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 0 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 RIC.

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

  • BE9L at 24,500 ft, 47 nm southwest, 10:21 pm EDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
    Report
    a routine report filed through PUB
    Where
    40 nm west (250°) of PUB
    Time
    02:21 UTC
    Height
    at 24,500 ft
    Aircraft
    BE9L
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate
    Remarks
    ZDVWC-41
  • CL60 at 33,000 ft, 7 nm north, 10:35 pm EDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 7 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    COS UA /OV BRK080015/TM 0235/FL330/TP CL60/RM MTW +/-100FT ZDVWC
    Report
    a routine report filed through COS
    Where
    15 nm east (080°) of BRK
    Time
    02:35 UTC
    Height
    at 33,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CL60
    Remarks
    mtw +/-100FT zdvwc
  • E170 at 22,500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest 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

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 13 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, CRW, CVG, LOU, EVV, STL, COU, MKC, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft250° at 23 kt+23 kt21 °C97 kt13 h 18 min12:32 pm MDT (18:32 UTC)
6,500 ft260° at 21 kt+22 kt15 °C98 kt13 h 10 min12:24 pm MDT (18:24 UTC)
8,500 ft270° at 18 kt+20 kt11 °C100 kt12 h 54 min12:08 pm MDT (18:08 UTC)
10,500 ft280° at 15 kt+16 kt8 °C104 kt12 h 24 min11:38 am MDT (17:38 UTC)
12,500 ft280° at 13 kt+14 kt4 °C106 kt12 h 10 min11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC)
14,500 ft280° at 16 kt+17 kt0 °C103 kt12 h 31 min11:45 am MDT (17:45 UTC)
16,500 ft280° at 19 kt+19 kt-4 °C101 kt12 h 46 min12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180280° at 20 kt+21 kt-7 °C99 kt13 h 02 min12:16 pm MDT (18:16 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240270° at 24 kt+26 kt-19 °C94 kt13 h 43 min12:57 pm MDT (18:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300270° at 40 kt+41 kt-32 °C79 kt16 h 20 min3:34 pm MDT (21:34 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340280° at 47 kt+48 kt-39 °C72 kt17 h 55 min5:09 pm MDT (23:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390280° at 45 kt+45 kt-49 °C75 kt17 h 12 min4:26 pm MDT (22:26 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RICused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line270/23280/19 11°270/18 8°240/22 4°230/39 -7°220/55 -18°220/75 -30°230/83 -39°230/64 -50°
ROAused from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line310/29330/31 13°340/28 7°330/25 3°310/32 -8°300/32 -22°290/32 -31°270/35 -38°270/32 -47°
CRWused from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line330/20330/23 11°340/25 8°340/21 2°340/33 -9°340/41 -20°330/42 -35°320/44 -39°320/43 -47°
CVGused from 298 nm out; 48 nm from the line320/18350/32 16°350/35 10°350/30 3°330/30 -7°340/44 -20°340/58 -35°330/72 -41°320/36 -49°
LOUused from 347 nm out; 33 nm from the line310/18340/28 16°340/29 10°350/27 3°330/27 -7°340/39 -19°330/58 -33°330/67 -41°330/40 -49°
EVVused from 447 nm out; 44 nm from the line280/15290/12 17°310/16 10°320/13 5°310/22 -6°320/26 -18°320/38 -33°310/56 -41°320/55 -51°
STLused from 546 nm out; 51 nm from the line250/24250/24 16°260/23 9°270/16 6°260/25 -6°270/29 -19°290/34 -33°290/48 -41°290/54 -51°
COUused from 645 nm out; 39 nm from the line230/31230/30 15°260/16 11°270/14 6°260/24 -6°270/27 -18°270/37 -32°280/49 -41°290/56 -51°
MKCused from 744 nm out; 49 nm from the line220/44250/28 18°250/18 13°240/12 6°280/24 -6°240/34 -18°260/47 -30°260/51 -40°270/58 -50°
SLNused from 893 nm out; 46 nm from the line210/53230/41 20°240/26 14°230/16 8°240/25 -7°240/35 -19°250/61 -30°260/65 -38°260/56 -49°
GCKused from 1042 nm out; 77 nm from the line220/48 21°230/37 14°250/30 8°230/37 -6°240/37 -20°240/69 -28°250/67 -37°260/58 -48°
GLDused from 1092 nm out; 39 nm from the line230/49230/42 15°220/26 8°240/18 -7°230/27 -21°240/62 -30°240/61 -35°250/57 -47°
PUBused from 1241 nm out; 36 nm from the line230/25 13°230/32 6°220/44 -8°230/49 -21°240/70 -28°240/67 -34°240/58 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
RIC Richmond, VA departure marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet from the west (270°) at 5 knots 10+ mi 2,500 ft 167 ft 1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC)
HSP Hot Springs, VA 119 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line reported, no category from the west (270°) at 10 knots 0.25 mi none 3,792 ft 02:35 UTC
LWB Lewisburg, WV 149 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots 4 mi 2,100 ft 2,301 ft 02:15 UTC
FGX Flemingsburg, KY 308 nm out, 9 nm north of the line marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 1,600 ft 913 ft 04:55 UTC
LOU Louisville, KY 397 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower low IFR Weather: mist calm 0.75 mi none 545 ft 04:53 UTC
ALN Alton/St Louis, IL 605 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 543 ft 04:55 UTC
COU Columbia, MO 705 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (180°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 889 ft 04:54 UTC
TOP Topeka, KS 863 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots, gusting to 19 10+ mi none 881 ft 04:53 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS 913 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 10+ mi none 1,066 ft 04:52 UTC
OEL Oakley, KS 1112 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 10+ mi none 3,045 ft 04:55 UTC
ITR Burlington, CO 1171 nm out, 18 nm north of the line VFR from the south (190°) at 14 knots 10+ mi none 4,218 ft 04:53 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO destination VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet from the south (180°) at 11 knots 10+ mi 18,000 ft 6,187 ft 10:54 pm MDT (04:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC)

Wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for COS
  • From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for RIC, the departure
  • From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 705 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 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 Southeast
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Richmond International, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.