Des Moines International to Detroit Metro Wayne County DSM → DTW
462 nautical miles (532 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 081° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:22 pm EDT (03:22 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: 1,980 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 last 30 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 DSM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A21N at 34,000 ft, 33 nm north, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 59 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALO UA /OV ALO180020/TM 2201/FL340/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALO
- Where
- 20 nm south (180°) of ALO
- Time
- 22:01 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 32 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 275 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 6 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 295 nm along the route, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
- A319 at 15,000 ft, 32 nm south, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 305 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
- Report
- a routine report filed through PPO
- Where
- over PPO
- Time
- 22:08 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
- B38M at 31,000 ft, 5 nm north, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 364 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
- Report
- a routine report filed through AZO
- Where
- over AZO
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
- F2TH at 3,100 ft, 10 nm northeast, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 374 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
- Report
- a routine report filed through AZO
- Where
- over BTL
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- F2TH
- Remarks
- tops 3,100 ft
- UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 32 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 394 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A320 climbing, 37 nm south, 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. 443 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over TOL
- Time
- 00:14 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- B025 overcast T040
- A320 descending, 37 nm south, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. 443 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over TOL
- Time
- 23:00 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
- Wind
- wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft
- CRJ2 descending, 46 nm north, 5:30 pm CDT (22:30 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 2,900 ft. 443 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 2230/FLDURD/TP CRJ2/SK OVC019 - TOP029
- Report
- a routine report filed through FNT
- Where
- over FNT
- Time
- 22:30 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Sky
- overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 2,900 ft
- P28A descending, 49 nm south, 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC): a broken layer from 2,200 ft to 2,500 ft. At the destination end, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV 1G0/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK BKN022 TOPS025
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over 1G0
- Time
- 00:08 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,200 ft, tops 2,500 ft
- E55P descending, 3 nm northeast, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
- Report
- a routine report filed through YIP
- Where
- over KYIP
- Time
- 23:00 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Sky
- B015
- P28A descending, 49 nm south, 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. At the destination end, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV 1G0/TM 2245/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK OVC014 TOPSUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over 1G0
- Time
- 22:45 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- overcast from 1,400 ft, tops unknown
- BE36 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm north, 5:20 pm CDT (22:20 UTC): no turbulence, imc. At the destination end, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV SVM/TM 2220/FL030/TP BE36/SK IMC/TB SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over SVM
- Time
- 22:20 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Sky
- instrument conditions
- Turbulence
- smooth
8 more routine reports are on the map.
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 230° at 12 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 3 h 33 min | 12:08 am EDT (04:08 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 12 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 3 h 28 min | 12:03 am EDT (04:03 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 13 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 27 min | 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 9 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 25 min | 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 5 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 28 min | 12:03 am EDT (04:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 1 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 28 min | 12:03 am EDT (04:03 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -4 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 27 min | 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -8 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 27 min | 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -9 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 27 min | 12:02 am EDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 26 kt | −17 kt | -20 °C | 137 kt | 3 h 22 min | 11:57 pm EDT (03:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 41 kt | −24 kt | -36 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 12 min | 11:47 pm EDT (03:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 46 kt | −29 kt | -44 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 06 min | 11:41 pm EDT (03:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 61 kt | −46 kt | -50 °C | 166 kt | 2 h 47 min | 11:22 pm EDT (03:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| BRL | used from 49 nm out; 69 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° |
| DBQ | used from 98 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -52° |
| JOT | used from 197 nm out; 38 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° |
| MKG | used from 295 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -49° |
| FWA | used from 394 nm out; 82 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° |
| CLE | used from 443 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 340/5 | 320/13 14° | 300/12 8° | 310/10 2° | 310/14 -10° | 340/14 -23° | 320/27 -35° | 260/28 -40° | 250/36 -48° |
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 | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| TNU Newton, IA | 30 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 952 ft | ||||
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 89 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 869 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 138 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| CWI Clinton, IA | 148 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 707 ft | ||||
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 207 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 742 ft | ||||
| ORD Chicago, IL | 256 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 680 ft | ||||
| MGC Michigan City, IN | 305 nm out, 23 nm south of the line | no report just now | 654 ft | ||||
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 364 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 873 ft | ||||
| JXN Jackson, MI | 413 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,000 ft | ||||
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 443 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 839 ft | ||||
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | no report just now | 645 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:22 pm EDT (03:22 UTC)
DTW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DTW is after sunset there (6:58 pm EDT (22:58 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, Detroit Metro Wayne County.