Des Moines International to Savannah/Hilton Head International DSM → SAV
822 nautical miles (945 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 129°, about 128° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:11 pm EDT (20:11 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21; SAV is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) 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: 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 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 594 to 633 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 10 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
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 10 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, SPI, STL, EVV, BNA, TYS, ATL, CAE, SAV). 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 | 270° at 14 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 6 h 16 min | 5:37 pm EDT (21:37 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 13 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 6 h 19 min | 5:40 pm EDT (21:40 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −12 kt | 13 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 14 min | 5:35 pm EDT (21:35 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −15 kt | 10 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 05 min | 5:26 pm EDT (21:26 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 7 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 55 min | 5:16 pm EDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 3 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 52 min | 5:13 pm EDT (21:13 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -1 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 52 min | 5:13 pm EDT (21:13 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -5 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 52 min | 5:13 pm EDT (21:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -6 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 52 min | 5:13 pm EDT (21:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 28 kt | −26 kt | -19 °C | 146 kt | 5 h 38 min | 4:59 pm EDT (20:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 43 kt | −42 kt | -32 °C | 162 kt | 5 h 04 min | 4:25 pm EDT (20:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 50 kt | −50 kt | -39 °C | 170 kt | 4 h 50 min | 4:11 pm EDT (20:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 47 kt | −46 kt | -49 °C | 166 kt | 4 h 57 min | 4:18 pm EDT (20:18 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | 230/34 | 230/32 20° | 220/33 12° | 240/35 5° | 250/39 -7° | 250/43 -21° | 280/61 -31° | 280/73 -37° | 280/67 -47° |
| BRL | used from 49 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 240/28 | 240/25 18° | 250/26 12° | 260/29 5° | 260/24 -8° | 270/36 -20° | 280/57 -33° | 290/65 -37° | 290/54 -46° |
| SPI | used from 148 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/21 15° | 260/11 12° | 280/19 6° | 270/23 -8° | 280/34 -20° | 290/55 -33° | 290/62 -37° | 290/55 -47° |
| STL | used from 198 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 240/25 | 240/21 15° | 260/21 12° | 270/21 7° | 280/25 -7° | 280/39 -19° | 290/65 -31° | 290/70 -38° | 290/59 -48° |
| EVV | used from 297 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 270/15 | 250/15 14° | 260/24 11° | 270/28 6° | 280/30 -7° | 280/34 -18° | 290/48 -33° | 290/59 -38° | 300/56 -48° |
| BNA | used from 396 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 270/14 | 270/10 14° | 280/19 11° | 280/26 6° | 280/25 -6° | 280/31 -18° | 300/44 -32° | 300/53 -40° | 310/51 -49° |
| TYS | used from 544 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 320/8 | 330/17 16° | 320/17 9° | 310/24 6° | 290/23 -6° | 290/28 -19° | 300/36 -33° | 310/48 -40° | 320/46 -50° |
| ATL | used from 594 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 340/24 | 350/18 17° | 330/15 11° | 320/20 6° | 310/16 -4° | 300/18 -18° | 320/28 -32° | 330/43 -40° | 340/35 -51° |
| CAE | used from 693 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 340/11 | 330/13 14° | 350/24 11° | 350/26 8° | 340/26 -5° | 350/33 -18° | 340/31 -32° | 340/30 -41° | 330/32 -52° |
| SAV | used from 742 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 340/14 | 330/21 16° | 340/26 12° | 350/25 8° | 360/28 -6° | 360/29 -19° | 360/36 -31° | 360/27 -42° | 330/31 -51° |
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, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 957 ft | 9:54 am CDT (14:54 UTC) |
| OXV Knoxville, IA | 30 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 928 ft | 15:15 UTC |
| UIN Quincy, IL | 148 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 228 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| BLV Belleville, IL | 247 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 459 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| TWT Sturgis, KY | 356 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 372 ft | 15:15 UTC |
| XNX Gallatin, TN | 455 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 583 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 554 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 682 ft | 15:18 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 643 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| AHN Athens, GA | 673 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 14:51 UTC |
| AGS Augusta, GA | 742 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 145 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| SAV Savannah, GA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 50 ft | 10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAV when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:11 pm EDT (20:11 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SAV
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 16 nm from the route, 445 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at SAV 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:20 pm EDT (23:20 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, Savannah/Hilton Head International.