Plan a flight · Mon 7:06 am CDT (12:06 UTC)

Hector International to Des Moines International FAR → DSM

351 nautical miles (404 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 156°, about 152° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:29 am CDT (14:29 UTC). Right now FAR is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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 first 166 nm of the route.
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 last 107 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 FAR.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

E75L at 2,200 ft, 0 nm southwest, 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 2,200 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 1058/FL022/TP E75L/SK OVC013-TOP022
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
10:58 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 2,200 ft
P28A at 4,000 ft, 15 nm west, 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,800 ft, 10 °C. At the departure end, 15 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR270015/TM 0927/FL040/TP P28A/SK OVC013-TOP038/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
15 nm west (270°) of KFAR
Time
09:27 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,800 ft
Temperature
10 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
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 departure 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

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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (AXN, FSD, MCW, DSM). 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	240° at 18 kt	+2 kt		118 kt	2 h 58 min	10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC)
5,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	−1 kt		121 kt	2 h 54 min	10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	+1 kt	15 °C	119 kt	2 h 57 min	10:03 am CDT (15:03 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	+3 kt	11 °C	117 kt	3 h	10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+2 kt	6 °C	118 kt	2 h 58 min	10:04 am CDT (15:04 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	0	2 °C	120 kt	2 h 56 min	10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−2 kt	-3 °C	122 kt	2 h 53 min	9:59 am CDT (14:59 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 26 kt	−4 kt	-8 °C	124 kt	2 h 50 min	9:56 am CDT (14:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 26 kt	−4 kt	-9 °C	124 kt	2 h 50 min	9:56 am CDT (14:56 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 33 kt	−6 kt	-21 °C	126 kt	2 h 47 min	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 33 kt	−8 kt	-36 °C	128 kt	2 h 45 min	9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 51 kt	−21 kt	-39 °C	141 kt	2 h 29 min	9:35 am CDT (14:35 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 62 kt	−27 kt	-48 °C	147 kt	2 h 23 min	9:29 am CDT (14:29 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
AXN	used from 0 nm out; 64 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°
FSD	used from 146 nm out; 79 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°
MCW	used from 195 nm out; 68 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°
DSM	used from 292 nm out; 34 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°

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
FAR Fargo, ND	departure	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots	4 mi	400 ft	901 ft	6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC)
BWP Wahpeton, ND	39 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots	4 mi	7,000 ft	968 ft	11:55 UTC
FFM Fergus Falls, MN	49 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	1,182 ft	11:55 UTC
MOX Morris, MN	88 nm out, 1 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	1,135 ft	11:50 UTC
GDB Granite Falls, MN	136 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: mist	calm	1.75 mi	100 ft	1,047 ft	11:55 UTC
MWM Windom, MN	195 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	1,410 ft	11:21 UTC
EST Estherville, IA	224 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,318 ft	11:49 UTC
FOD Fort Dodge, IA	282 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,156 ft	11:56 UTC
BNW Boone, IA	321 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots, gusting to 11	10+ mi	none	1,160 ft	11:55 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	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)

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 DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:29 am CDT (14:29 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

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

The forecast for FAR, the departure

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

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 FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Hector International, Des Moines International.