1950: Frontier Airlines (FS2004) - Denver to Salt Lake City Route
In this flight you’ll re-create an early Frontier Airline’s route from Denver to Salt Lake City.
Frontier Airlines was created on June 1, 1950 by the merger of three smaller airlines: Monarch Air Lines, Challenger Airlines, and Arizona Airways. An early timetable read: “A new name on the horizon…Frontier Airlines—America’s Largest Local Service Airline.” Frontier served the Rocky Mountain West and Southwest until it went out of business in 1986. (The Frontier Airlines founded in 1994 is a different company.)
In 1950, many airlines flew on federal airways between larger cities. Frontier’s flights between Denver and Salt Lake City, however, stopped at smaller cities and towns off the airways, connecting isolated communities to each other and to larger cities. From metropolises like Denver, Salt Lake, and Albuquerque, Frontier passengers could connect to transcontinental airlines, and go virtually anywhere they wished to go. Today’s regional commuter airlines are direct descendants of this service model.
Because only 10 percent of Frontier’s routes followed federal airways, Frontier needed to install its own radio navigational system to facilitate flying in bad weather. These beacons, called H-markers, transmitted homing signals which pilots could use to determine their position. H-markers often helped pilots navigate across high mountain passes, especially in bad weather.
Frontier’s route from Denver to Salt Lake City took pilots through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. But because the Douglas DC–3 had no pressurized equipment, Frontier’s pilots could not fly directly over the high Rockies. Instead, they flew from mountain valley to mountain valley, flying over high passes where turbulence, icing, and inclement weather were common hazards. Once pilots landed at a mountain town’s airstrip, they faced long, unnerving takeoff rolls in thin air. Some airports, such as Colorado's Gunnison County Airport, were located more than 7,000 feet above sea level. Pilots taxied as close as they dared to to the end of the runway, revved the engines to full power, released the brakes, and watched the far end of the runway get closer and closer until finally their DC–3 took to the air. In spite of all these challenges, Frontier maintained the best safety record in the history of civil aviation.
Mountain flying is serious business, and you'll do plenty of it on these flights. Starting in Denver, you begin at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. Ascending the Rocky Mountains will take you up into the realm of thin air and challenging terrain.
First Release: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.
Total Legs: 7 Total Distance: 531 Total Time(125kts): 4 hours 14 minutes
Leg 1
Denver Intl to Pueblo Meml
Leg Distance: 98.17 Approximate time at 125kts: 47 minutes.
Denver Intl(KDEN) to Aurora Airport(POI1)
Distance: 7.74NM Bearing: 164° 4 minutes
Take off from Denver International Airport (KDEN), and turn to heading 165 degrees. Maintain this heading for the remainder of the flight, correcting for wind drift as necessary. Pass Aurora Airport (01V): two intersecting runways (one asphalt, one turf).
Aurora Airport(POI1) to Buckley Air National Guard Base(POI2)
Distance: 2.31NM Bearing: 167° 1 minutes
Buckley Air National Guard Base (KFKF), 5 NM west of course: one runway.
Buckley Air National Guard Base(POI2) to Centennial Airport(POI3)
Distance: 7.79NM Bearing: 168° 4 minutes
Centennial Airport (KAPA), 10 NM west of course: three runways.
Centennial Airport(POI3) to Small Private Airports(POI4)
Distance: 13.99NM Bearing: 168° 7 minutes
You'll pass numerous small private airports.
Small Private Airports(POI4) to Meadow Lake Airport(POI5)
Distance: 23.55NM Bearing: 168° 11 minutes
Meadow Lake Airport (KFLY), formerly (00V): two runways, just south of abandoned railroad tracks.
Meadow Lake Airport(POI5) to Colorado Springs East Airport(POI6)
Distance: 4.15NM Bearing: 168° 2 minutes
Colorado Springs East Airport (CO4) formerly (A50), 7 NM east of course: three intersecting runways (1 asphalt, 2 gravel).
Colorado Springs East Airport(POI6) to City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport(POI7)
Distance: 4.55NM Bearing: 171° 2 minutes
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS), 7 NM west of course: three runways.
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport(POI7) to Pueblo(PUB)
Distance: 30.85NM Bearing: 162° 15 minutes
The Pueblo VOR (PUB 116.7) is located three NM east of the airport.
Pueblo(PUB) to Pueblo Meml(KPUB)
Distance: 3.24NM Bearing: 258° 2 minutes
Turn right and land at Pueblo Memorial Airport.
Leg 2
Pueblo Meml to Fremont County
Leg Distance: 29.89 Approximate time at 125kts: 14 minutes.
Pueblo Meml(KPUB) to City of Pueblo(POI8)
Distance: 5.37NM Bearing: 273° 3 minutes
From the north end of the city, follow Interstate 50 west.
City of Pueblo(POI8) to Pueblo Reservoir(POI9)
Distance: 5.66NM Bearing: 280° 3 minutes
Pueblo Reservoir, 4 NM south of course.
Pueblo Reservoir(POI9) to Fremont County(1V6)
Distance: 18.86NM Bearing: 280° 9 minutes
Land at Fremont County Airport (1V6): two runways (11-29 and 17-35). Airport elevation is 5,439 feet MSL. Do not confuse with Braun Airport (32CO), 2 NM north.
Leg 3
Fremont County to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regl
Leg Distance: 86.81 Approximate time at 125kts: 42 minutes.
Fremont County(1V6) to Canon City(POI10)
Distance: 6.01NM Bearing: 272° 3 minutes
Take off from Fremont County Airport, and fly west. Follow Interstate 50 and the railroad tracks west. Start climbing to 12,500 feet to make it over the pass, but stay as low as practical since the aircraft is un-pressurized.
Fly over Canon City. Numerous roads branch off of Interstate 50, so just follow the river and railroad tracks, which parallel the highway.
Canon City(POI10) to Lowe Airstrip(POI11)
Distance: 18.03NM Bearing: 258° 9 minutes
Tezak old Airport and Lowe Airstrip (CD01): located between the highway and the tracks.
Lowe Airstrip(POI11) to Alexander Airport(POI12)
Distance: 21NM Bearing: 278° 10 minutes
Alexander Airport KANK, formerly (0V2): one runway, 2 NM west of city of Salida, north of highway. Just west of the airport, Interstate 285 (running north/south) crosses Interstate 50 and heads north and south. Continue following the railroad tracks and Interstate 50 west. The terrain rises rapidly ahead.
Alexander Airport(POI12) to Monarch Pass(POI13)
Distance: 13.2NM Bearing: 258° 6 minutes
Monarch Pass (11,312 feet MSL). Railroad tracks end east of the pass. Follow the highway southwest through the pass, then west. Descend slowly as terrain permits.
Monarch Pass(POI13) to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regl(KGUC)
Distance: 28.57NM Bearing: 267° 14 minutes
Land at Gunnison County Airport (KGUC): two runways (06-24 and 17-35), 1 NM southwest of city of Gunnison and 4 NM east of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Airport elevation is 7,662 feet MSL.
The Blue Mesa VOR (HBU 114.9) is located seven NM southwest of the airport.
Leg 4
Gunnison-Crested Butte Regl to Montrose Rgnl
Leg Distance: 46.35 Approximate time at 125kts: 22 minutes.
Gunnison-Crested Butte Regl(KGUC) to Blue Mesa Reservoir(POI14)
Distance: 17.84NM Bearing: 250° 9 minutes
Take off from Gunnison County Airport, and fly west. Follow Interstate 50.
Blue Mesa Reservoir(POI14) to Flying M Ranch Airport(POI15)
Distance: 17.59NM Bearing: 262° 8 minutes
Follow the highway west and reach Flying M Ranch Airport (39CO), 2 NM north of the highway.
Flying M Ranch Airport(POI15) to Montrose(MTJ)
Distance: 10.61NM Bearing: 272° 5 minutes
The Montrose VOR (MTJ 117.1) is located at the airport.
Montrose(MTJ) to Montrose Rgnl(KMTJ)
Distance: 0.31NM Bearing: 41° 0 minutes
Land at Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ).
Leg 5
Montrose Rgnl to Grand Junction Regional
Leg Distance: 47.21 Approximate time at 125kts: 23 minutes.
Montrose Rgnl(KMTJ) to Sky Island Ranch Airport(POI16)
Distance: 10.8NM Bearing: 312° 5 minutes
Take off from Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ), and turn to heading 310 degrees. Maintain this heading for the remainder of the flight, correcting for wind drift as necessary.
Sky Island Ranch Airport (3CO0), 5 NM northeast of course and 1 NM north of Sweitzer Lake.
Sky Island Ranch Airport(POI16) to Hawkins Airport(POI17)
Distance: 7.98NM Bearing: 312° 4 minutes
Hawkins Airport (D17): one runway (dirt), 4 NM west of city of Delta. Also Blake Airport (1V9), 4 NM northeast of course.
Hawkins Airport(POI17) to Grand Junction Regional(KGJT)
Distance: 28.43NM Bearing: 312° 14 minutes
Land at Walker Airport (KGJT): 3 NM northeast of city of Grand Junction.<br
The Grand Junction VOR (JNC 112.4) is located 13 NM southwest of the airport.
Leg 6
Grand Junction Regional to Provo Muni
Leg Distance: 186.32 Approximate time at 125kts: 89 minutes.
Grand Junction Regional(KGJT) to Mack Mesa Airport(POI18)
Distance: 17.93NM Bearing: 286° 9 minutes
Take off from Walker Airport and follow the tracks and highway northwest . Reach Mack Mesa Airport, 2 NM north of the highway and tracks, which turn southwest here.
Mack Mesa Airport(POI18) to Westwater Airport(POI19)
Distance: 14.13NM Bearing: 244° 7 minutes
Just south of highway and tracks. The Colorado River will be visible to the south.
Westwater Airport(POI19) to Rogers Roost Airport(POI20)
Distance: 28.1NM Bearing: 238° 13 minutes
Track the highway.
Rogers Roost Airport(POI20) to Green River(POI21)
Distance: 20.02NM Bearing: 258° 10 minutes
Cross the Green River.
Green River(POI21) to Green River Municipal Airport(POI22)
Distance: 3.84NM Bearing: 254° 2 minutes
Green River Municipal Airport (U34): one runway, 4 NM west of the Green River and 1 NM south of Interstate 50.
Green River Municipal Airport(POI22) to Carbon County Airport(POI23)
Distance: 44.19NM Bearing: 315° 21 minutes
Follow the railroad tracks and U.S. Highway 6 northwest. Carbon County Airport (KPUC).
The Carbon VOR (PUC 115.5) is located at the airport.
Carbon County Airport(POI23) to Spanish Fork-Springville Airport(POI24)
Distance: 52.65NM Bearing: 302° 25 minutes
Continue northwest through Price Canyon and Spanish Fork Canyon. Terrain rises ahead.
Spanish Fork-Springville Airport(POI24) to Provo Muni(KPVU)
Distance: 5.46NM Bearing: 301° 3 minutes
Fly across Provo Bay and land at Provo Municipal Airport, southwest of city of Provo, on the eastern shore of Utah Lake.
The Provo VOR (PVU 108.4) is located at the airport.
Leg 7
Provo Muni to Salt Lake City Intl
Leg Distance: 36.57 Approximate time at 125kts: 18 minutes.
Provo Muni(KPVU) to Salt Lake City Municipal Number 2 Airport(POI25)
Distance: 26.5NM Bearing: 325° 13 minutes
Take off from Provo Municipal Airport and turn to heading 325 degrees. Maintain this heading for the remainder of the flight, correcting for wind drift as necessary. Salt Lake City Municipal Number 2 Airport is located on west of course.
Salt Lake City Municipal Number 2 Airport(POI25) to Salt Lake City Intl(KSLC)
Distance: 10.07NM Bearing: 345° 5 minutes
Land at Salt Lake City International Airport, 4 NM west of downtown Salt Lake City, on the southeastern shore of Great Salt Lake.
The Salt Lake City VOR (SLC 116.8) is located 3 NM north of the airport).
