Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to Des Moines International CHO → DSM
729 nautical miles (839 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC). Right now CHO is VFR, wind calm; DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 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: 3 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, fog). Over the first 360 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 150 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 CHO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 200 ft, 47 nm south, 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 300 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 1 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 08:05 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- sky obscured from 200 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B752 climbing, 48 nm south, 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 300 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 07:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- B001 overcast T015
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 24 nm northeast, 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 479 nm along the route, 24 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- 23 nm north (010°) of RBS
- Time
- 07:05 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 (EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, IND, JOT, SPI, BRL, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 17 min | 10:59 am CDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 14 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 09 min | 10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 01 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 05 min | 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 3 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 17 min | 10:59 am CDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -1 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 26 min | 11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 25 kt | +25 kt | -5 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 40 min | 11:22 am CDT (16:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 7 h 50 min | 11:32 am CDT (16:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 33 kt | +33 kt | -20 °C | 87 kt | 8 h 23 min | 12:05 pm CDT (17:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 38 kt | +38 kt | -34 °C | 82 kt | 8 h 53 min | 12:35 pm CDT (17:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 53 kt | +51 kt | -41 °C | 69 kt | 10 h 34 min | 2:16 pm CDT (19:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 53 kt | +52 kt | -50 °C | 68 kt | 10 h 43 min | 2:25 pm CDT (19:25 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKN | used from 0 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| CRW | used from 100 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| CMH | used from 200 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
| CVG | used from 250 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| IND | used from 350 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| JOT | used from 449 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| SPI | used from 499 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| BRL | used from 549 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DSM | used from 649 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 640 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | 20 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,201 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| USW Spencer, WV | 140 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 928 ft | ||||
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 160 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 1,400 ft | 858 ft | 08:33 UTC |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 260 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,076 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| AID Anderson, IN | 350 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 919 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 420 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 605 ft | 08:03 UTC |
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 509 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 539 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| AWG Washington, IA | 639 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| PEA Pella, IA | 699 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 885 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,201 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, 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DSM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 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 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CHO, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 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 CHO 6:40 pm EDT (22:40 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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: Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Des Moines International.