Tucson International to Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field TUS → ASE
470 nautical miles (541 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 024°, about 015° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 72-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:14 am MDT (10:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TUS is VFR, wind calm; ASE is VFR, wind variable 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 SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 69 to 118 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC). Over the last 363 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 127 to 363 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC). Over the last 108 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), from 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC). Over the last 88 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 TUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 11,000 ft, 17 nm southeast, 11:58 pm MST (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 343 nm along the route, 17 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- over DRO
- Time
- 06:58 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BASE117
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36
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 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 (TUS, PHX, FMN, GJT). 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 | 210° at 29 kt | −29 kt | 9 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 09 min | 4:56 am MDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 33 kt | −33 kt | 7 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 04 min | 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | −38 kt | 4 °C | 158 kt | 2 h 58 min | 4:45 am MDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 43 kt | −42 kt | 0 °C | 162 kt | 2 h 54 min | 4:41 am MDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 47 kt | −46 kt | -4 °C | 166 kt | 2 h 50 min | 4:37 am MDT (10:37 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 51 kt | −49 kt | -9 °C | 169 kt | 2 h 47 min | 4:34 am MDT (10:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 52 kt | −50 kt | -10 °C | 170 kt | 2 h 46 min | 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 62 kt | −60 kt | -21 °C | 180 kt | 2 h 37 min | 4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 76 kt | −70 kt | -27 °C | 190 kt | 2 h 28 min | 4:15 am MDT (10:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 84 kt | −72 kt | -34 °C | 192 kt | 2 h 27 min | 4:14 am MDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 72 kt | −66 kt | -46 °C | 186 kt | 2 h 32 min | 4:19 am MDT (10:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° | |
| PHX | used from 98 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| FMN | used from 147 nm out; 137 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| GJT | used from 392 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS Tucson, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 2,643 ft | 11:53 pm MST (06:53 UTC) |
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 137 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| SJN St Johns, AZ | 167 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,736 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 235 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,742 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 304 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (100°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| DRO Durango, CO | 343 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 6,689 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 382 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 9,069 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| GUC Gunnison, CO | 431 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,679 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 7,837 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ASE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:14 am MDT (10:14 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ASE
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
The forecast for TUS, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MST (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 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 TUS 5:53 pm MST (00:53 UTC), at ASE 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ASE is before sunrise there (7:14 am MDT (13:14 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: Tucson International, Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field.