Friedman Memorial to Centennial Airport SUN → APA
485 nautical miles (559 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 116°, about 103° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC). Right now SUN is VFR, wind calm; APA is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 12 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 129 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 406 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 416 nm of 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 258 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 228 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, 267 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 178 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 337 nm along 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 SUN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 46 nm northeast, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 446 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast 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
- B38M at 22,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 2:14 am MDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 08:14 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- B737 descending, 17 nm northeast, 2:10 am MDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 08:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- B737 descending, 17 nm northeast, 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 07:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- smooth
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (PIH, RKS, GJT, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 9 kt | −3 kt | 9 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 57 min | 7:59 am MDT (13:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | −2 kt | 4 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 59 min | 8:01 am MDT (14:01 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | −1 kt | 0 °C | 121 kt | 4 h | 8:02 am MDT (14:02 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | −2 kt | -4 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 59 min | 8:01 am MDT (14:01 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 36 kt | −3 kt | -9 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 57 min | 7:59 am MDT (13:59 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 43 kt | −5 kt | -13 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 53 min | 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 45 kt | −5 kt | -14 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 53 min | 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 50 kt | −10 kt | -24 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 44 min | 7:46 am MDT (13:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 64 kt | −12 kt | -31 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 40 min | 7:42 am MDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 64 kt | −19 kt | -35 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 29 min | 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 59 kt | −17 kt | -44 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 32 min | 7:34 am MDT (13:34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH | used from 0 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 149 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| GJT | used from 347 nm out; 112 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| DEN | used from 396 nm out; 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUN Hailey, ID | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,200 feet, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 7 mi | 3,800 ft | 5,319 ft | 3:55 am MDT (09:55 UTC) |
| AOC Arco, ID | 40 nm out, 24 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,334 ft | ||||
| PIH Pocatello, ID | 79 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 4,451 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| EMM Kemmerer, WY | 188 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 3,600 feet, a broken layer at 4,200 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 7,288 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 258 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 6,764 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 337 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 6,548 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| SBS Steamboat Springs, CO | 376 nm out, 0 nm southeast 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 |
| GNB Granby, CO | 426 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 8,207 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| BJC Denver, CO | 466 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,673 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| APA Denver, CO | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,884 ft | 3:53 am MDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 8,207 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At APA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for APA
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for SUN, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 1,200 feet, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet and more above
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 SUN 6:57 pm MDT (00:57 UTC), at APA 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 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: Friedman Memorial, Centennial Airport.