Plan a flight · Sun 9:10 pm EDT (01:10 UTC)

Charlotte/Douglas International to Des Moines International CLT → DSM

707 nautical miles (814 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 306°, about 313° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 2:50 am CDT (07:50 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 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: 1,568 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 110 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 60 to 199 nm out.
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 route from 149 to 249 nm out.

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 CLT.

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

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 80 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
A321 at 30,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 149 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 24 nm northeast, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 30 nm along the route, 24 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
S22T descending, 22 nm northeast, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 100 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent RY23 tri
CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 25 nm southwest, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 110 nm along the route, 25 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
40 nm east (090°) of VXV
Time
22:46 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-42
E75S at 29,000 ft, 49 nm southwest, 6:21 pm EDT (22:21 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-39. 139 nm along the route, 49 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV/TM 2221/FL290/TP E75S/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM ZTLFD-39
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over VXV
Time
22:21 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
Remarks
ZTLFD-39
CRJ9 descending, 37 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 239 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
A319 at 25,000 ft, 50 nm southwest, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 269 nm along the route, 50 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
E170 climbing, 14 nm northeast, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 289 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 19 nm northeast, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 289 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37
B38M at 23,700 ft, 15 nm north, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 379 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light

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 8 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TRI, TYS, LOU, EVV, 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	290° at 14 kt	+14 kt	11 °C	106 kt	6 h 40 min	2:50 am CDT (07:50 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	+18 kt	13 °C	102 kt	6 h 56 min	3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+20 kt	10 °C	100 kt	7 h 04 min	3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	+22 kt	6 °C	98 kt	7 h 13 min	3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+23 kt	3 °C	97 kt	7 h 17 min	3:27 am CDT (08:27 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 24 kt	+24 kt	-1 °C	96 kt	7 h 22 min	3:32 am CDT (08:32 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 24 kt	+24 kt	-5 °C	96 kt	7 h 22 min	3:32 am CDT (08:32 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 24 kt	+24 kt	-8 °C	96 kt	7 h 22 min	3:32 am CDT (08:32 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 27 kt	+26 kt	-19 °C	94 kt	7 h 31 min	3:41 am CDT (08:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 35 kt	+35 kt	-33 °C	85 kt	8 h 19 min	4:29 am CDT (09:29 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 41 kt	+40 kt	-41 °C	80 kt	8 h 50 min	5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 42 kt	+42 kt	-49 °C	78 kt	9 h 04 min	5:14 am CDT (10:14 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
GSP	used from 0 nm out; 54 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
TRI	used from 50 nm out; 34 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
TYS	used from 149 nm out; 65 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
LOU	used from 199 nm out; 68 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
EVV	used from 349 nm out; 41 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
SPI	used from 399 nm out; 76 nm from the line	210/13	260/11 17°	270/18 10°	290/21 4°	310/20 -8°	330/25 -19°	320/49 -34°	320/60 -44°	320/59 -50°
BRL	used from 548 nm out; 21 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 648 nm out; 35 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
CLT Charlotte, NC	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	747 ft	8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC)
HKY Hickory, NC	40 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	00:53 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	100 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	1,518 ft	00:53 UTC
LOZ London, KY	189 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,212 ft	20:18 UTC
BRY Bardstown, KY	269 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	669 ft	23:35 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	289 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	00:56 UTC
LWV Lawrenceville, IL	389 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	429 ft	00:53 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	468 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	00:54 UTC
SPI Springfield, IL	498 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	597 ft	00:52 UTC
FSW Fort Madison, IA	588 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	721 ft	00:55 UTC
OXV Knoxville, IA	678 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	reported, no category	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots		none	928 ft	00:55 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 1,518 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, 2:50 am CDT (07:50 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 CLT, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds 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 CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 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

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Charlotte/Douglas International, Des Moines International.