Waco Regional to Des Moines International ACT → DSM
620 nautical miles (713 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 015°, about 008° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ACT is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 10 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 ACT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 6 forecast points nearest it (DAL, OKC, TUL, SGF, MKC, DSM). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 200° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 146 kt | 4 h 15 min | 12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 145 kt | 4 h 17 min | 12:37 am CDT (05:37 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 14 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 28 min | 12:48 am CDT (05:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −13 kt | 11 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 40 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 8 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 44 min | 1:04 am CDT (06:04 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 42 min | 1:02 am CDT (06:02 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 42 min | 1:02 am CDT (06:02 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | −13 kt | -5 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 40 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 24 kt | −13 kt | -6 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 40 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 23 kt | −12 kt | -17 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 42 min | 1:02 am CDT (06:02 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 34 kt | −5 kt | -30 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 58 min | 1:18 am CDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 38 kt | −6 kt | -40 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 55 min | 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 43 kt | +1 kt | -52 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 13 min | 1:33 am CDT (06:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | used from 0 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -52° |
| OKC | used from 150 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/29 16° | 230/22 14° | 240/17 9° | 240/28 -6° | 250/35 -15° | 270/42 -29° | 270/43 -39° | 280/38 -51° |
| TUL | used from 200 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/27 | 210/28 15° | 240/24 13° | 250/19 8° | 250/28 -6° | 260/25 -16° | 270/34 -30° | 280/41 -39° | 280/41 -52° |
| SGF | used from 350 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 210/21 | 210/21 16° | 240/28 12° | 260/24 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/26 -18° | 290/38 -31° | 290/37 -41° | 300/49 -52° |
| MKC | used from 400 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| DSM | used from 550 nm out; 45 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Waco, TX | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 516 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
| GKY Arlington, TX | 60 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| RBD Dallas, TX | 70 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| GYI Sherman/Denison, TX | 130 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 749 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| MLC Mc Alester, OK | 210 nm out, 18 nm east of the line | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 770 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TUL Tulsa, OK | 280 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 677 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CFV Coffeyville, KS | 340 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| FSK Fort Scott, KS | 390 nm out, 16 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 918 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| OJC Olathe, KS | 450 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,096 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 500 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| LWD Lamoni, IA | 570 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,130 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 957 ft | 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,130 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC)
Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DSM
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ACT, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,700 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 17,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX on the route, 80 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at ACT 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DSM is before sunrise there (7:23 am CDT (12:23 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: Waco Regional, Des Moines International.