Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Des Moines International DCA → DSM
778 nautical miles (895 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 287°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 2:32 am CDT (07:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 1,324 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
- SIGMET E16E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 25 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 90 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112355 MKCE WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16E VALID UNTIL 0155Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM SAX-30SE JFK-10N DCA-60ENE EKN-SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22025KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- SIGMET E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 110 to 249 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112355 MKCE WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E VALID UNTIL 0155Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 120 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 190 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 209 to 359 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 DCA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 (RIC, EKN, AGC, CMH, FWA, 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 10 kt | +9 kt | 13 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 01 min | 2:36 am CDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 14 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 12 min | 2:47 am CDT (07:47 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | +11 kt | 10 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 08 min | 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 9 kt | +9 kt | 7 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 01 min | 2:36 am CDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 9 kt | +8 kt | 3 °C | 112 kt | 6 h 57 min | 2:32 am CDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 11 kt | +10 kt | -1 °C | 110 kt | 7 h 04 min | 2:39 am CDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 12 kt | +11 kt | -6 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 08 min | 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 13 kt | +13 kt | -9 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 16 min | 2:51 am CDT (07:51 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 19 kt | +18 kt | -20 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 38 min | 3:13 am CDT (08:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 28 kt | +27 kt | -34 °C | 93 kt | 8 h 22 min | 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 34 kt | +33 kt | -41 °C | 87 kt | 8 h 57 min | 4:32 am CDT (09:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 42 kt | +41 kt | -49 °C | 79 kt | 9 h 51 min | 5:26 am CDT (10:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| AGC | used from 150 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| CMH | used from 199 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| FWA | used from 349 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| JOT | used from 449 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| BRL | used from 598 nm out; 46 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 698 nm out; 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA Washington, DC | departure | no report just now | 14 ft | ||||
| IAD Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 312 ft | ||||
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 140 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,243 ft | ||||
| CDI Cambridge, OH | 219 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | no report just now | 798 ft | ||||
| OSU Columbus, OH | 289 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 905 ft | ||||
| PLD Portland, IN | 379 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | no report just now | 925 ft | ||||
| GUS Peru, IN | 439 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 810 ft | ||||
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 469 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 605 ft | ||||
| EZI Kewanee, IL | 608 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 638 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| PEA Pella, IA | 748 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 885 ft | ||||
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | no report just now | 957 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,243 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, 2:32 am CDT (07:32 UTC)
DSM has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at DSM 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Des Moines International.