James M Cox Dayton International to Des Moines International DAY → DSM
441 nautical miles (507 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 292° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DAY is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 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: 5 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). Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- 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 39 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 DAY.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 34,000 ft, 48 nm north, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 20 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- 40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
- Time
- 02:03 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- CRJ9 descending, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
- Report
- a routine report filed through DAY
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- T031 B005
- A321 at 21,000 ft, 25 nm north, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over ROD
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- none
- E145 climbing, 0 nm north, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- B005 T035
- B744 climbing, 48 nm south, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. At the departure end, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 north cvg
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- B022 overcast T036
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 22 nm north, 10:15 pm EDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 352 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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, JOT, 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 | 260° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 101 kt | 4 h 22 min | 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 15 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 25 min | 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 14 min | 1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | +13 kt | 7 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 07 min | 1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 3 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 05 min | 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | +16 kt | -1 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 14 min | 1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 20 kt | +20 kt | -4 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 25 min | 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 22 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 33 min | 2:06 am CDT (07:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 28 kt | +29 kt | -19 °C | 91 kt | 4 h 51 min | 2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | +33 kt | -34 °C | 87 kt | 5 h 04 min | 2:37 am CDT (07:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -42 °C | 70 kt | 6 h 18 min | 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 56 kt | +55 kt | -51 °C | 65 kt | 6 h 47 min | 4:20 am CDT (09:20 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 58 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| IND | used from 49 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 147 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| BRL | used from 245 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 392 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY Dayton, OH | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 8 mi | 1,200 ft | 1,009 ft | 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC) |
| VES Versailles, OH | 20 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,007 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| MIE Muncie, IN | 59 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 937 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 127 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| DNV Danville, IL | 157 nm out, 22 nm south of the line | no report just now | 696 ft | ||||
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 215 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 255 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 303 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| AWG Washington, IA | 352 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR Weather: haze | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | none | 754 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| OOA Oskaloosa, IA | 382 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | none | 840 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| PEA Pella, IA | 411 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 885 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 957 ft | 8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,009 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, 1:38 am CDT (06:38 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 DAY, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 600 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 DAY 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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: James M Cox Dayton International, Des Moines International.