Plan a flight · Mon 11:47 am EDT (15:47 UTC)

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International to Des Moines International CVG → DSM

438 nautical miles (504 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC). Right now CVG is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21. 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: 4 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 60 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 CVG.

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

E170 at 21,000 ft, 29 nm south, 11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC): moderate turbulence. 90 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV OOM/TM 1518/FL210/TP E170/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over OOM
Time
15:18 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate
E170 at 24,000 ft, 29 nm south, 11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC): moderate turbulence. 90 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV OOM/TM 1518/FL240/TP E170/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over OOM
Time
15:18 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate
CRJ9 at 29,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 10:39 am EDT (14:39 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV MXQ320015/TM 1439/FL290/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
15 nm northwest (320°) of MXQ
Time
14:39 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
BCS3 climbing, 3 nm southwest, 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC): overcast from 20,000 ft to 500 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1418/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK OVC002 TOPS 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
14:18 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
overcast from 200 ft, tops 500 ft
E170 at 26,000 ft, 37 nm south, 10:17 am EDT (14:17 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FLM220015/TM 1417/FL260/TP E170/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
15 nm southwest (220°) of FLM
Time
14:17 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
none
E75S descending, 3 nm southwest, 9:50 am EDT (13:50 UTC): a broken layer above 20,000 ft, remarks: cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1350/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK BKN002/RM CVG ARRIVAL, RUNWAY INSIGHT AT 250 FEET
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:50 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
a broken layer from 200 ft
Remarks
cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet
E75L descending, 3 nm southwest, 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1338/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK VV001/RM RWY 18L ARRIVAL, PICKED UP APPROACH LIGHTS AT MINIMUMS, 001
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft
CRJ9 descending, 3 nm southwest, 9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1321/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK VV001/RM RWY 18R ALS INSIGHT AT 150 FEET
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:21 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet
E75S at 100 ft, 3 nm southwest, 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC): sky obscured. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1257/FL001/TP E75S/SK VV001
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
12:57 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
EMBRAER at 400 ft, 10 nm south, 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC): haze, remarks: ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft. 60 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1337/FL004/TP EMBRAER/WX HZ/RM ILS RWY 23 CEILING 004
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAK
Where
over KBAK
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
EMBRAER
Weather
haze
Remarks
ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft
G280 at 200 ft, 10 nm south, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): fog, remarks: ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground. 60 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1310/FL002/TP G280/WX FG/RM ILS RWY 23 RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT AQUIRED AT 200 FEET AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAK
Where
over KBAK
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
G280
Weather
fog
Remarks
ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (CVG, IND, 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	240° at 23 kt	+16 kt		104 kt	4 h 13 min	3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	+16 kt	15 °C	104 kt	4 h 13 min	3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	+17 kt	12 °C	103 kt	4 h 15 min	3:02 pm CDT (20:02 UTC)
10,500 ft	260° at 24 kt	+21 kt	8 °C	99 kt	4 h 25 min	3:12 pm CDT (20:12 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 26 kt	+25 kt	4 °C	95 kt	4 h 37 min	3:24 pm CDT (20:24 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 26 kt	+25 kt	0 °C	95 kt	4 h 37 min	3:24 pm CDT (20:24 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	4 h 37 min	3:24 pm CDT (20:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-8 °C	95 kt	4 h 37 min	3:24 pm CDT (20:24 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 37 kt	+35 kt	-20 °C	85 kt	5 h 09 min	3:56 pm CDT (20:56 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 53 kt	+53 kt	-34 °C	67 kt	6 h 32 min	5:19 pm CDT (22:19 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 61 kt	+61 kt	-38 °C	59 kt	7 h 25 min	6:12 pm CDT (23:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 56 kt	+56 kt	-47 °C	64 kt	6 h 51 min	5:38 pm CDT (22:38 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
CVG	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	260/20	280/18 15°	270/19 8°	290/30 5°	280/31 -7°	290/37 -19°	280/46 -35°	290/55 -40°	310/57 -48°
IND	used from 50 nm out; 14 nm from the line	260/18	250/20 15°	260/26 9°	290/28 5°	290/30 -7°	280/40 -20°	280/46 -35°	290/53 -38°	300/58 -47°
SPI	used from 149 nm out; 71 nm from the line	230/24	240/21 15°	260/11 12°	280/19 6°	270/23 -8°	280/34 -20°	290/55 -33°	290/62 -37°	290/55 -47°
BRL	used from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line	240/28	240/25 18°	250/26 12°	260/29 5°	260/24 -8°	270/36 -20°	280/57 -33°	290/65 -37°	290/54 -46°
DSM	used from 398 nm out; 20 nm from the line	230/34	230/32 20°	220/33 12°	240/35 5°	250/39 -7°	250/43 -21°	280/61 -31°	280/73 -37°	280/67 -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
CVG Covington, KY	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	6 mi	none	896 ft	11:16 am EDT (15:16 UTC)
HLB Batesville, IN	30 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	975 ft	15:35 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	60 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	656 ft	14:45 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	90 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	796 ft	14:54 UTC
DNV Danville, IL	149 nm out, 14 nm north of the line	no report just now				696 ft
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	179 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	754 ft	14:53 UTC
PIA Peoria, IL	249 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	660 ft	14:54 UTC
CTK Canton, IL	269 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	no report just now				683 ft
MPZ Mount Pleasant, IA	338 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	730 ft	15:35 UTC
OOA Oskaloosa, IA	378 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	7 mi	none	840 ft	15:35 UTC
PEA Pella, IA	408 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	885 ft	15:35 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	25,000 ft	957 ft	9:54 am CDT (14:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 975 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, 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

The forecast for CVG, the departure

From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Des Moines International.