The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 5:14 pm PDT (00:14 UTC)

San Diego International to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal SAN → COS

708 nautical miles (815 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 056°, about 045° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 69-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:59 pm MDT (03:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SAN is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 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: 340 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 W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 259 to 319 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    TX NM AZ
    FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 449 to 678 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    CO NM AZ UT
    FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 130 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 599 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 180 to 299 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 200 to 619 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 319 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 489 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 399 to 449 nm out.
  • 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 route from 529 to 579 nm out.

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 SAN.

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

Not fetched just now.

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (SAN, BLH, PRC, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
7,500 ft210° at 27 kt−24 kt10 °C144 kt4 h 55 min11:09 pm MDT (05:09 UTC)
9,500 ft220° at 27 kt−25 kt8 °C145 kt4 h 53 min11:07 pm MDT (05:07 UTC)
11,500 ft220° at 32 kt−29 kt3 °C149 kt4 h 45 min10:59 pm MDT (04:59 UTC)
13,500 ft220° at 36 kt−34 kt0 °C154 kt4 h 36 min10:50 pm MDT (04:50 UTC)
15,500 ft220° at 41 kt−39 kt-5 °C159 kt4 h 27 min10:41 pm MDT (04:41 UTC)
17,500 ft220° at 46 kt−44 kt-8 °C164 kt4 h 19 min10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 48 kt−45 kt-9 °C165 kt4 h 17 min10:31 pm MDT (04:31 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240220° at 55 kt−53 kt-20 °C173 kt4 h 06 min10:20 pm MDT (04:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 67 kt−66 kt-28 °C186 kt3 h 48 min10:02 pm MDT (04:02 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340230° at 70 kt−69 kt-35 °C189 kt3 h 45 min9:59 pm MDT (03:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390230° at 59 kt−59 kt-46 °C179 kt3 h 57 min10:11 pm MDT (04:11 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
SANused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line200/10240/19 9°240/27 5°230/22 -1°220/40 -10°220/49 -19°220/54 -29°220/61 -35°220/56 -44°
BLHused from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line230/22210/24 11°230/23 5°230/26 0°220/38 -10°230/52 -19°220/58 -28°220/69 -34°220/59 -45°
PRCused from 200 nm out; 51 nm from the line200/36 6°210/46 0°220/60 -10°220/75 -19°220/66 -26°230/70 -33°230/59 -45°
BCEused from 349 nm out; 115 nm from the line210/47 0°200/50 -12°220/31 -23°220/56 -26°220/58 -35°230/58 -45°
FMNused from 399 nm out; 84 nm from the line220/25 13°220/28 4°210/51 -9°220/59 -21°230/78 -30°230/77 -36°230/66 -46°
ALSused from 549 nm out; 67 nm from the line210/32 5°230/48 -8°230/49 -20°230/78 -30°240/74 -36°240/61 -47°
PUBused from 648 nm out; 43 nm from the line210/24 16°210/28 8°230/43 -8°240/42 -21°240/77 -30°240/72 -36°250/51 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
SAN San Diego, CA departure VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,700 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 3,700 ft 16 ft 4:51 pm PDT (23:51 UTC)
RNM Ramona, CA 20 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,600 feet, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 4,300 feet Weather: mist from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots 7 mi 1,600 ft 1,394 ft 23:53 UTC
HII Lake Havasu City, AZ 180 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 10+ mi 5,000 ft 782 ft 23:55 UTC
CMR Williams, AZ 289 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet Weather: mist from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 26 6 mi 2,100 ft 6,690 ft 23:35 UTC
CEZ Cortez, CO 499 nm out, 9 nm north of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots 10+ mi none 5,917 ft 23:53 UTC
RCV Del Norte, CO 609 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms rain from the north (350°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 4,900 ft 7,955 ft 23:55 UTC
ANK Salida, CO 648 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet from the south (180°) at 17 knots, gusting to 26 10+ mi 7,500 ft 7,523 ft 23:55 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO destination VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots 10+ mi 14,000 ft 6,187 ft 5:54 pm MDT (23:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,955 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, 9:59 pm MDT (03:59 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 VFR

The whole forecast for COS
  • From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 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 SAN, the departure
  • From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
  • From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
  • From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
  • From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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

  • 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 17 nm from the route, 60 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
  • 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
  • 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 18 nm from the route, 190 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
  • 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 678 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
  • 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 14 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 SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC), at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COS is after sunset there (6:26 pm MDT (00:26 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 Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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: San Diego International, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.