Denver International to Des Moines International DEN → DSM
511 nautical miles (588 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 075°, about 067° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 66-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 13 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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: 4,640 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 route from 10 to 39 nm out.
- 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 314 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 DEN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- UAL1735 at 19,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 5:50 am MDT (11:50 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 237° at 58 knots. At the departure end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1735 3925N 10525W 1150 F190 237/058KT TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 38 nm west, 5:24 am MDT (11:24 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. At the departure end, 38 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN277039/TM 1124/FL210/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP BLO 180 NEG ABV 180/RM DURC. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 39 nm west (277°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:24 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop below 18,000 ft no above 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zdvwc
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 36 nm west, 4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the departure end, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 27 nm north, 6:09 am MDT (12:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 187 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1209/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBF
- Where
- over LBF
- Time
- 12:09 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 35 kt | −34 kt | 23 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 19 min | 10:38 am CDT (15:38 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 16 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 29 min | 10:48 am CDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 12 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 34 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −21 kt | 7 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 37 min | 10:56 am CDT (15:56 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −24 kt | 3 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 33 min | 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −27 kt | -2 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 29 min | 10:48 am CDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −31 kt | -7 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 23 min | 10:42 am CDT (15:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | −32 kt | -8 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 22 min | 10:41 am CDT (15:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 43 kt | −41 kt | -21 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 10 min | 10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 55 kt | −55 kt | -31 °C | 175 kt | 2 h 55 min | 10:14 am CDT (15:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 66 kt | −66 kt | -36 °C | 186 kt | 2 h 45 min | 10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 64 kt | −65 kt | -47 °C | 185 kt | 2 h 46 min | 10:05 am CDT (15:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GLD | used from 98 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| GRI | used from 196 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 344 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 442 nm out; 44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC) |
| FMM Fort Morgan, CO | 49 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,595 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 69 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| IML Imperial, NE | 147 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,276 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 187 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LXN Lexington, NE | 236 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,412 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 295 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| AUH Aurora, NE | 314 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 1,803 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 363 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 413 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| GFZ Greenfield, IA | 471 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,363 ft | ||||
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 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, 10:04 am CDT (15:04 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 DEN, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 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 DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 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: Denver International, Des Moines International.