Plan a flight · Sun 7:24 pm MDT (01:24 UTC)

Rocky Mountain Metro Airport to Des Moines International BJC → DSM

530 nautical miles (610 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 076°, about 067° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 59-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:22 pm CDT (04:22 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BJC is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 5 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

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 40 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 BJC.

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

BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 32 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, 45 nm south, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 45 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
A21N at 32,000 ft, 7 nm north, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 60 nm along the route, 7 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
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 4 nm south, 5:31 pm MDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 70 nm along the route, 4 nm south 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
UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 7 nm north, 6:18 pm MDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 200 nm along the route, 7 nm north 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
GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 49 nm south, 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS340020/TM 0048/FL400/TP GLF6/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
20 nm north (340°) of COS
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
B738 at 38,000 ft, 48 nm west, 4:39 pm MDT (22:39 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: light mountain wave a 8-knot loss of airspeed zdvwc. At the departure end, 48 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL047040/TM 2239/FL380/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP/RM LGT MTN WAVE +/-8KTS ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
40 nm northeast (047°) of DBL
Time
22:39 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
light mountain wave a 8-knot loss of airspeed zdvwc
B737 at 14,000 ft, 35 nm south, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm south (170°) of DEN
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
A321 descending, 11 nm south, 6:26 pm MDT (00:26 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
00:26 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
E75L at 10,000 ft, 14 nm north, 5:45 pm MDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm north (350°) of DEN
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
light from the surface to 17,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 6,500 ft, 11 nm south, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2327/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 6,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no turbulence on final runway 17R
B737 descending, 11 nm south, 4:29 pm MDT (22:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
A320 at 8,000 ft, 17 nm south, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 50 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm east (080°) of DEN
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 35,000 ft, 7 nm north, 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. 60 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
ZDVWC-07

2 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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, 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
5,500 ft	210° at 30 kt	−20 kt	19 °C	140 kt	3 h 47 min	12:11 am CDT (05:11 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	−19 kt	16 °C	139 kt	3 h 49 min	12:13 am CDT (05:13 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	−19 kt	13 °C	139 kt	3 h 49 min	12:13 am CDT (05:13 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	−19 kt	8 °C	139 kt	3 h 49 min	12:13 am CDT (05:13 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−21 kt	3 °C	141 kt	3 h 46 min	12:10 am CDT (05:10 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-2 °C	145 kt	3 h 39 min	12:03 am CDT (05:03 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 29 kt	−29 kt	-6 °C	149 kt	3 h 33 min	11:57 pm CDT (04:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 30 kt	−30 kt	-7 °C	150 kt	3 h 32 min	11:56 pm CDT (04:56 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-19 °C	153 kt	3 h 28 min	11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 44 kt	−42 kt	-32 °C	162 kt	3 h 16 min	11:40 pm CDT (04:40 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 53 kt	−53 kt	-40 °C	173 kt	3 h 04 min	11:28 pm CDT (04:28 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 58 kt	−59 kt	-50 °C	179 kt	2 h 58 min	11:22 pm CDT (04:22 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
DEN	used from 0 nm out; 10 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°
GLD	used from 100 nm out; 71 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°
GRI	used from 200 nm out; 93 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°
OMA	used from 350 nm out; 54 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°
DSM	used from 500 nm out; 15 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
BJC Denver, CO	departure	VFR	from the north (350°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC)
DEN Denver, CO	20 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	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	00:53 UTC
AKO Akron, CO	90 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	00:53 UTC
HEQ Holyoke, CO	140 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Weather: haze	from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots	5 mi	none	3,729 ft	01:15 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	160 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	00:53 UTC
LXN Lexington, NE	250 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	2,412 ft	01:15 UTC
EAR Kearney, NE	280 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	2,131 ft	00:56 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	320 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	00:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	390 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	00:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	430 nm out, 2 nm southwest 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
GFZ Greenfield, IA	490 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				1,363 ft
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 5,673 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, 11:22 pm CDT (04:22 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 BJC, the departure

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 BJC 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 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 after sunset there (6:40 pm CDT (23:40 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, Des Moines International.