Plan a flight · Mon 8:58 am CDT (13:58 UTC)

Des Moines International to Hector International DSM → FAR

351 nautical miles (404 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 338°, about 337° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19; FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 10 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: 2 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 214 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

B38M at 32,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 58 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
35 nm east (075°) of FOD
Time
11:35 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft
B38M at 32,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 117 nm along the route, 45 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD285060/TM 1145/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
60 nm west (285°) of FOD
Time
11:45 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
BE36 at 6,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC): no turbulence. 127 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FRM UA /OV FRM/TM 1312/FL060/TP BE36/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FRM
Where
over FRM
Time
13:12 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Turbulence
none
SF50 at 13,000 ft, 7 nm northeast, 8:36 am CDT (13:36 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 13,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 185 nm along the route, 7 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RWF UA /OV RWF/TM 1336/FL130/TP SF50/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through RWF
Where
over RWF
Time
13:36 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
K100 at 2,800 ft, 33 nm east, 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 10 °C. 331 nm along the route, 33 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTL UA /OV DTL/TM 1307/FL028/TP K100/SK BASE028/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTL
Where
over DTL
Time
13:07 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
K100
Sky
BASE028
Temperature
10 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
A321 at 1,200 ft, 6 nm west, 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 2,900 ft. At the destination end, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 1216/FL012/TP A321/SK OVC012-TOP029
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
12:16 UTC
Height
at 1,200 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 2,900 ft
E75L at 1,300 ft, 6 nm west, 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 2,900 ft. At the destination end, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 1120/FL013/TP E75L/SK OVC013-TOP029
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
11:20 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 2,900 ft
PC12 at 3,500 ft, 5 nm west, 8:39 am CDT (13:39 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 3,500 ft, 10 °C. At the destination end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR270005/TM 1339/FL035/TP PC12/SK OVC012-TOP035/TA 10
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
5 nm west (270°) of KFAR
Time
13:39 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Temperature
10 °C
TBM8 at 2,700 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 2,700 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 1303/FL027/TP TBM8/SK OVC013-TOP027
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
13:03 UTC
Height
at 2,700 ft
Aircraft
TBM8
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 2,700 ft
M600 at 2,800 ft, 2 nm west, 7:36 am CDT (12:36 UTC): overcast up to 2,800 ft. At the destination end, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR270002/TM 1236/FL028/TP M600/SK OVCUNKN-TOP028
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
2 nm west (270°) of KFAR
Time
12:36 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
overcast, tops 2,800 ft
B190 at 1,100 ft, 2 nm south, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the descent the ILS approach to runway 36. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR180002/TM 1230/FL011/TP B190/SK OVC012-TOP027/RM DURD ILS36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
2 nm south (180°) of KFAR
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
B190
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the descent the ILS approach to runway 36

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 5 forecast points nearest it (DSM, MCW, FSD, AXN, GFK). 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	240° at 17 kt	−1 kt		121 kt	2 h 54 min	11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	0	17 °C	120 kt	2 h 56 min	11:54 am CDT (16:54 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−3 kt	13 °C	123 kt	2 h 51 min	11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−2 kt	8 °C	122 kt	2 h 53 min	11:51 am CDT (16:51 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−1 kt	4 °C	121 kt	2 h 54 min	11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+1 kt	-1 °C	119 kt	2 h 57 min	11:55 am CDT (16:55 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+3 kt	-6 °C	117 kt	3 h	11:58 am CDT (16:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 26 kt	+4 kt	-9 °C	116 kt	3 h 02 min	12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 33 kt	+6 kt	-21 °C	114 kt	3 h 05 min	12:03 pm CDT (17:03 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 33 kt	+8 kt	-37 °C	112 kt	3 h 08 min	12:06 pm CDT (17:06 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 50 kt	+20 kt	-39 °C	100 kt	3 h 31 min	12:29 pm CDT (17:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 62 kt	+27 kt	-48 °C	93 kt	3 h 46 min	12:44 pm CDT (17:44 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; 24 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°
MCW	used from 49 nm out; 51 nm from the line	250/36	250/24 19°	240/26 11°	250/30 5°	270/22 -9°	260/30 -21°	260/31 -36°	280/53 -38°	280/66 -48°
FSD	used from 146 nm out; 78 nm from the line	210/20	230/23 21°	220/25 14°	230/30 5°	230/26 -9°	240/30 -21°	270/33 -36°	260/47 -37°	270/58 -47°
AXN	used from 195 nm out; 58 nm from the line	110/6	260/10 16°	240/17 12°	250/20 5°	260/29 -10°	260/35 -22°	260/29 -38°	270/48 -41°	270/61 -48°
GFK	used from 341 nm out; 68 nm from the line	080/18	L/V 11°	260/22 7°	250/48 3°	260/51 -11°	250/44 -22°	260/34 -38°	260/53 -44°	270/66 -49°

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: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	957 ft	8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC)
BNW Boone, IA	29 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,160 ft	13:35 UTC
FOD Fort Dodge, IA	68 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,156 ft	13:56 UTC
EST Estherville, IA	127 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,318 ft	13:49 UTC
MWM Windom, MN	156 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.5 mi	200 ft	1,410 ft	13:41 UTC
GDB Granite Falls, MN	214 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet	calm	7 mi	100 ft	1,047 ft	13:55 UTC
MVE Montevideo, MN	224 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,034 ft	13:55 UTC
MOX Morris, MN	263 nm out, 1 nm south of the line	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,135 ft	13:40 UTC
BWP Wahpeton, ND	312 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	968 ft	13:55 UTC
FAR Fargo, ND	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (010°) at 10 knots	1.5 mi	300 ft	901 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,410 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet IFR

The whole forecast for FAR

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 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 FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Hector International.