Plan a flight · Sun 9:29 pm EDT (01:29 UTC)

Willow Run Airport to Denver International YIP → DEN

965 nautical miles (1,111 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 269°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 4:35 am MDT (10:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now YIP is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 2 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 109 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 YIP.

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

A320 at 33,000 ft, 5 nm north, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 70 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 776 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 2 nm north, 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 916 nm along the route, 2 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 32,000 ft, 14 nm north, 7:42 pm EDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 925 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 38 nm south, 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the destination end, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
CRJ7 descending, 8 nm east, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
final 3R
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 2,800 ft
C550 at 2,300 ft, 26 nm north, 8:46 pm EDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
4W
Time
00:46 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C550
Remarks
fis 4 mile final
A21N descending, 8 nm east, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
CRJ9 descending, 8 nm east, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
final runway 4L
GLF5 at 9,000 ft, 26 nm north, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 7E/TM 2313/FL090/TP GLF5/SK OVC015-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 7E
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,000 ft
PA32 at 1,500 ft, 26 nm north, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 1W/TM 2303/FL015/TP PA32/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 1W
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
E75S descending, 8 nm east, 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV RWY 3R/TM 2301/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK TOPS 020 BASES 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
runway 3R
Time
23:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
tops 2,000 ft bases 1,000 ft
E55P descending, 0 nm northwest, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (FWA, MKG, JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, 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
4,500 ft	220° at 19 kt	+14 kt	19 °C	106 kt	9 h 06 min	4:35 am MDT (10:35 UTC)
6,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	+17 kt	16 °C	103 kt	9 h 22 min	4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+17 kt	12 °C	103 kt	9 h 22 min	4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC)
10,500 ft	250° at 15 kt	+16 kt	9 °C	104 kt	9 h 17 min	4:46 am MDT (10:46 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	+16 kt	5 °C	104 kt	9 h 17 min	4:46 am MDT (10:46 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	+18 kt	0 °C	102 kt	9 h 28 min	4:57 am MDT (10:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	+21 kt	-5 °C	99 kt	9 h 45 min	5:14 am MDT (11:14 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 22 kt	+22 kt	-8 °C	98 kt	9 h 51 min	5:20 am MDT (11:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 25 kt	+26 kt	-20 °C	94 kt	10 h 16 min	5:45 am MDT (11:45 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 33 kt	+35 kt	-34 °C	85 kt	11 h 21 min	6:50 am MDT (12:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 43 kt	+43 kt	-42 °C	77 kt	12 h 32 min	8:01 am MDT (14:01 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 55 kt	+53 kt	-50 °C	67 kt	14 h 24 min	9:53 am MDT (15:53 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

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 90 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
MKG	used from 100 nm out; 61 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
JOT	used from 149 nm out; 48 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
DBQ	used from 249 nm out; 53 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
DSM	used from 398 nm out; 32 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 498 nm out; 34 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
GRI	used from 597 nm out; 45 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
GLD	used from 746 nm out; 93 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
DEN	used from 896 nm out; 45 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -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

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
YIP Detroit, MI	departure	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	715 ft	8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC)
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	90 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	873 ft	00:53 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	189 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	00:53 UTC
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	199 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	644 ft	00:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	368 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	00:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	458 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	00:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	557 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	00:52 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	667 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	00:53 UTC
LXN Lexington, NE	736 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	2,412 ft	01:15 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	816 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	00:53 UTC
AKO Akron, CO	896 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	00:53 UTC
DEN Denver, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	22,000 ft	5,433 ft	6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:35 am MDT (10:35 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 DEN

From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet and more above
From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 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 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for YIP, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 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 YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DEN is before sunrise there (7:05 am MDT (13:05 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Willow Run Airport, Denver International.