Plan a flight · Mon 12:14 am EDT (04:14 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 10:24 am MDT (16:24 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 8 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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 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 E15E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 38,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 1:55 am EDT (05:55 UTC). Near the route, 89 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120355
MKCE WST 120355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15E
VALID UNTIL 0555Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 30NW HTO-90ESE CYN-100ESE SBY-40N LYH-40E AIR-30NW HTO
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL380.

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 route from 40 to 476 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 79 to 248 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 129 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, 149 nm along the route.
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 814 to 1211 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 79 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 69 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

urgent B407 at 10,000 ft, 10 nm west, 10:13 pm EDT (02:13 UTC): moderate to severe turbulence. At the destination end, 10 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UUA /OV 10 W COS/TM 0213/FL100/TP B407/TB MDT-SEV
```
Report
an urgent report filed through COS
Where
10 west cos
Time
02:13 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
B407
Turbulence
mdt-sev
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
B738 at 18,000 ft, 29 nm northwest, 10:02 pm EDT (02:02 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 18,000 ft to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 29 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK270030/TM 0202/FL180/TP B738/TB MOD CHOP 180-250/RM DURC ZDVWC-41
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BRK
Time
02:02 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate chop from 18,000 ft to 25,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-41
A21N at 17,000 ft, 20 nm north, 9:28 pm EDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 427 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
45 nm south (183°) of IND
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
clear
Icing
none
Remarks
clear since departing KIND southbound
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
E55P at 38,000 ft, 25 nm northwest, 9:23 pm EDT (01:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-05. At the destination end, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV FQF200040/TM 0123/FL380/TP E55P/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm south (200°) of FQF
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-05

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.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+23 kt	21 °C	97 kt	13 h 18 min	11:32 am MDT (17:32 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 21 kt	+22 kt	15 °C	98 kt	13 h 10 min	11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC)
8,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	+20 kt	11 °C	100 kt	12 h 54 min	11:08 am MDT (17:08 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	+16 kt	8 °C	104 kt	12 h 24 min	10:38 am MDT (16:38 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	+14 kt	4 °C	106 kt	12 h 10 min	10:24 am MDT (16:24 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	+17 kt	0 °C	103 kt	12 h 31 min	10:45 am MDT (16:45 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 19 kt	+19 kt	-4 °C	101 kt	12 h 46 min	11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 20 kt	+21 kt	-7 °C	99 kt	13 h 02 min	11:16 am MDT (17:16 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 24 kt	+26 kt	-19 °C	94 kt	13 h 43 min	11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 40 kt	+41 kt	-32 °C	79 kt	16 h 20 min	2:34 pm MDT (20:34 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 47 kt	+48 kt	-39 °C	72 kt	17 h 55 min	4:09 pm MDT (22:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 45 kt	+45 kt	-49 °C	75 kt	17 h 12 min	3:26 pm MDT (21:26 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

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	270/23	280/19 11°	270/18 8°	240/22 4°	230/39 -7°	220/55 -18°	220/75 -30°	230/83 -39°	230/64 -50°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line	310/29	330/31 13°	340/28 7°	330/25 3°	310/32 -8°	300/32 -22°	290/32 -31°	270/35 -38°	270/32 -47°
CRW	used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
CVG	used from 298 nm out; 48 nm from the line	320/18	350/32 16°	350/35 10°	350/30 3°	330/30 -7°	340/44 -20°	340/58 -35°	330/72 -41°	320/36 -49°
LOU	used from 347 nm out; 33 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -49°
EVV	used from 447 nm out; 44 nm from the line	280/15	290/12 17°	310/16 10°	320/13 5°	310/22 -6°	320/26 -18°	320/38 -33°	310/56 -41°	320/55 -51°
STL	used from 546 nm out; 51 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -51°
COU	used from 645 nm out; 39 nm from the line	230/31	230/30 15°	260/16 11°	270/14 6°	260/24 -6°	270/27 -18°	270/37 -32°	280/49 -41°	290/56 -51°
MKC	used from 744 nm out; 49 nm from the line	220/44	250/28 18°	250/18 13°	240/12 6°	280/24 -6°	240/34 -18°	260/47 -30°	260/51 -40°	270/58 -50°
SLN	used from 893 nm out; 46 nm from the line	210/53	230/41 20°	240/26 14°	230/16 8°	240/25 -7°	240/35 -19°	250/61 -30°	260/65 -38°	260/56 -49°
GCK	used from 1042 nm out; 77 nm from the line		220/48 21°	230/37 14°	250/30 8°	230/37 -6°	240/37 -20°	240/69 -28°	250/67 -37°	260/58 -48°
GLD	used from 1092 nm out; 39 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
PUB	used from 1241 nm out; 36 nm from the line			230/25 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

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
RIC Richmond, VA	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet	from the west (260°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	167 ft	12:01 am EDT (04:01 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 1,200 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	913 ft	03:55 UTC
LOU Louisville, KY	397 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	300 ft	545 ft	04:00 UTC
ALN Alton/St Louis, IL	605 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	03:55 UTC
COU Columbia, MO	705 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	03:54 UTC
TOP Topeka, KS	863 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	881 ft	03:53 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS	913 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,066 ft	03:52 UTC
OEL Oakley, KS	1112 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	3,045 ft	03:55 UTC
ITR Burlington, CO	1171 nm out, 18 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 29	10+ mi	none	4,218 ft	03:53 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	9:54 pm MDT (03:54 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, 10:24 am MDT (16:24 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies 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
6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV

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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Richmond International, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.