Des Moines International to Boise Air Trml/Gowen Field DSM → BOI
1,002 nautical miles (1,153 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 3:34 pm MDT (21:34 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; BOI is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 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 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 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 first 258 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 228 to 962 nm out.
- 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 427 to 566 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 486 to 566 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 566 to 943 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 625 to 962 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 DSM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BE9L at 17,000 ft, 15 nm south, 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC): light rime icing from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 0 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 595 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CPR UA /OV DDY250025/TM 0942/FL170/TP BE9L/TA 00/IC LGT RIME 150-170/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CPR
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of DDY
- Time
- 09:42 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- CRJ7 at 4,800 ft, 38 nm south, 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC): overcast above 4,800 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 21 pih. 843 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIH UA /OV KPIH/TM 1210/FL048/TP CRJ7/SK OVC048-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY21 PIH
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIH
- Where
- over KPIH
- Time
- 12:10 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 4,800 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 21 pih
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 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 (DSM, OMA, ONL, RAP, BFF, LND, PIH, BOI). 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 | 250° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 17 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 44 min | 4:01 pm MDT (22:01 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 17 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 38 min | 3:55 pm MDT (21:55 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +12 kt | 10 °C | 108 kt | 9 h 17 min | 3:34 pm MDT (21:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +13 kt | 5 °C | 107 kt | 9 h 22 min | 3:39 pm MDT (21:39 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +15 kt | 1 °C | 105 kt | 9 h 33 min | 3:50 pm MDT (21:50 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +16 kt | -4 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 38 min | 3:55 pm MDT (21:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | +18 kt | -9 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 49 min | 4:06 pm MDT (22:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 37 kt | +19 kt | -12 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 55 min | 4:12 pm MDT (22:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 41 kt | +22 kt | -24 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 13 min | 4:30 pm MDT (22:30 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 51 kt | +35 kt | -32 °C | 85 kt | 11 h 47 min | 6:04 pm MDT (00:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 53 kt | +39 kt | -36 °C | 81 kt | 12 h 22 min | 6:39 pm MDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 52 kt | +40 kt | -45 °C | 80 kt | 12 h 32 min | 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| OMA | used from 50 nm out; 42 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° |
| ONL | used from 149 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 347 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 446 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| LND | used from 546 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 744 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| BOI | used from 943 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 320/11 1° | 280/8 -5° | 220/14 -11° | 200/60 -19° | 190/66 -31° | 210/46 -32° | 220/50 -33° | 220/43 -39° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM Des Moines, IA | departure | 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) |
| GCT Guthrie Center, IA | 40 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,220 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 129 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 288 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 8 knots | 1 mi | 300 ft | 2,588 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 387 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 3,562 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| CDR Chadron, NE | 427 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 800 ft | 3,297 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 575 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 5,344 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| RIW Riverton, WY | 665 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 5,516 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | 764 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 6,451 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | 824 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (360°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 4,743 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SUN Hailey, ID | 923 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 5,319 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| BOI Boise, ID | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 2,871 ft | 5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,451 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BOI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:34 pm MDT (21:34 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BOI
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
The forecast for DSM, the departure
- 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
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 DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at BOI 7:05 pm MDT (01:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm MDT (01:33 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: Des Moines International, Boise Air Trml/Gowen Field.