Des Moines International to Laughlin/Bullhead International DSM → IFP
1,053 nautical miles (1,211 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 255°, about 254° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 27-knot headwind), arriving about 4:21 pm MST (23:21 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; IFP is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 8 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: 18 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 328 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 447 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 477 to 943 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 526 to 755 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 715 to 1023 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 288 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 904 to 1013 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
- B738 at 11,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 526 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK172014/TM 1142/FL110/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 14 nm south (172°) of BRK
- Time
- 11:42 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B752 at 23,000 ft, 48 nm north, 6:39 am CDT (11:39 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 566 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN231058/TM 1139/FL230/TP B752/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 58 nm southwest (231°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:39 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 655 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
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 10 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 10 °C | 93 kt | 11 h 19 min | 4:21 pm MST (23:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 7 °C | 92 kt | 11 h 27 min | 4:29 pm MST (23:29 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +30 kt | 3 °C | 90 kt | 11 h 42 min | 4:44 pm MST (23:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | +34 kt | -2 °C | 86 kt | 12 h 15 min | 5:17 pm MST (00:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 40 kt | +37 kt | -6 °C | 83 kt | 12 h 41 min | 5:43 pm MST (00:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 43 kt | +40 kt | -9 °C | 80 kt | 13 h 10 min | 6:12 pm MST (01:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 55 kt | +52 kt | -21 °C | 68 kt | 15 h 29 min | 8:31 pm MST (03:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 70 kt | +69 kt | -30 °C | 51 kt | 20 h 39 min | 1:41 am MST (08:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 75 kt | +76 kt | -36 °C | 44 kt | 23 h 56 min | 4:58 am MST (11:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 69 kt | +70 kt | -46 °C | 50 kt | 21 h 04 min | 2:06 am MST (09:06 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; 29 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° |
| GRI | used from 149 nm out; 45 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° | |
| GLD | used from 298 nm out; 68 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° | |
| PUB | used from 447 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 596 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 695 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 844 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 894 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| LAS | used from 993 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° |
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) |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 99 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 149 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| HSI Hastings, NE | 218 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,961 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 348 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| FLY Colorado Springs, CO | 526 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,878 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 536 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 735 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,917 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| BDG Blanding, UT | 765 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 5,867 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| GCN Grand Canyon, AZ | 923 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 6,608 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| IGM Kingman, AZ | 1023 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,900 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,700 ft | 3,448 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 7 mi | 7,500 ft | 707 ft | 4:50 am MST (11:50 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,878 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IFP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:21 pm MST (23:21 UTC)
Wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IFP
- From Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC) and 8:00 am MST (15:00 UTC): light rain, overcast at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MST (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MST (18:00 UTC): wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MST (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 556 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at IFP 6:05 pm MST (01:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:31 pm MST (01:31 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, Laughlin/Bullhead International.