Robert Gray Army Airfield to Des Moines International GRK → DSM
660 nautical miles (759 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 017°, about 013° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC). Right now GRK is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21. 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 last 300 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 GRK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 26,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zkcfdc xj. 350 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PPF UA /OV OSW190040/TM 1448/FL260/TP E75L/TB OCNL MOD CHOP/RM DURC /ZKCFDC XJ
- Report
- a routine report filed through PPF
- Where
- 40 nm south (190°) of OSW
- Time
- 14:48 UTC
- Height
- at 26,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- during the climb zkcfdc xj
- P28A descending, 25 nm south, 9:58 am CDT (14:58 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GTU UA /OV 4NM N/TM 1458/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK OVC018 - TOP023
- Report
- a routine report filed through GTU
- Where
- 4NM north
- Time
- 14:58 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,300 ft
- A321 at 4,500 ft, 43 nm south, 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC): remarks: on final during the descent. At the departure end, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
AUS UA /OV 10N KAUS/TM 1315/FL045/TP A321/SK T045/RM ON FINAL DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through AUS
- Where
- 10N KAUS
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 4,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- T045
- Remarks
- on final during the descent
- PC12 descending, 25 nm south, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): a broken layer above 2,200 ft. At the departure end, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GTU UA /OV 5NM N/TM 1302/FLDURD/TP PC12/SK BKN022 - TOPUNK
- Report
- a routine report filed through GTU
- Where
- 5NM north
- Time
- 13:02 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- BKN022 topunk
- BE20 climbing, 25 nm south, 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC): overcast from 2,800 ft to 4,000 ft, remarks: higher layer above. At the departure end, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GTU UA /OV 3NM SW/TM 1222/FLDURC/TP BE20/SK OVC028 - TOP040/RM HIGHER LAYER ABOVE
- Report
- a routine report filed through GTU
- Where
- 3NM southwest
- Time
- 12:22 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- overcast from 2,800 ft, tops 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- higher layer above
- TBM8 at 30,000 ft, 8 nm east, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW62. 60 nm along the route, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ACT UA /OV ACT340020/TM 1343/FL300/TP TBM8/TB NEG/RM ZFW62
- Report
- a routine report filed through ACT
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of ACT
- Time
- 13:43 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM8
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW62
- C172 at 7,500 ft, 18 nm east, 10:07 am CDT (15:07 UTC): a broken layer from 2,000 ft to 5,000 ft. 70 nm along the route, 18 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
INJ UA /OV INJ /TM 1507 /FL075 /TP C172 /SK BKN020-TOP050 /WX FV10SM
- Report
- a routine report filed through INJ
- Where
- over INJ
- Time
- 15:07 UTC
- Height
- at 7,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
- Weather
- flight visibility 10 miles
- B350 at 6,000 ft, 37 nm west, 9:57 am CDT (14:57 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW32. 90 nm along the route, 37 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
MWL UA /OV MQP/TM 1457/FL060/TP B350/TB NEG/RM ZFW32
- Report
- a routine report filed through MWL
- Where
- over MQP
- Time
- 14:57 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B350
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW32
- A321 at 34,000 ft, 37 nm west, 8:39 am CDT (13:39 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW94. 90 nm along the route, 37 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
MWL UA /OV MQP/TM 1339/FL340/TP A321/TB NEG/RM ZFW94
- Report
- a routine report filed through MWL
- Where
- over MQP
- Time
- 13:39 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW94
- M20P at 3,500 ft, 10 nm west, 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC): a broken layer, remarks: during the descent. 90 nm along the route, 10 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DFW UA /OV 50F140007/TM 1239/FL035/TP M20P/SK B035 BKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DFW
- Where
- 7 nm southeast (140°) of 50F
- Time
- 12:39 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- M20P
- Sky
- B035 broken
- Remarks
- during the descent
- C68A at 5,000 ft, 10 nm east, 9:38 am CDT (14:38 UTC): vmc. 110 nm along the route, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV 18 E FTW/TM 1438/FL050/TP C68A/WX VMC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- 18 east ftw
- Time
- 14:38 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C68A
- Weather
- visual conditions
- C560 at 2,600 ft, 8 nm west, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft. 110 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FTW UA /OV 5 NM W/TM 1302/FL026/TP C560/SK BKN026
- Report
- a routine report filed through FTW
- Where
- 5 nautical miles west
- Time
- 13:02 UTC
- Height
- at 2,600 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft
- C172 at 2,500 ft, 8 nm west, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,700 ft. 110 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FTW UA /OV 3 NM NW FTW/TM 1255/FL025/TP C172/SK SCT027
- Report
- a routine report filed through FTW
- Where
- 3 nautical miles northwest ftw
- Time
- 12:55 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- scattered clouds from 2,700 ft
- C172 at 1,700 ft, 11 nm northwest, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): a broken layer above 2,200 ft. 120 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AFW UA /OV AFW340004/TM 1338/FL017/TP C172/SK BKN022
- Report
- a routine report filed through AFW
- Where
- 4 nm north (340°) of AFW
- Time
- 13:38 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,200 ft
6 more routine reports are on the map.
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 6 forecast points nearest it (CLL, DAL, OKC, TUL, MKC, 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 | 210° at 25 kt | −24 kt | 144 kt | 4 h 35 min | 2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −24 kt | 144 kt | 4 h 35 min | 2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 16 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 41 min | 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 12 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 49 min | 3:08 pm CDT (20:08 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 8 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 51 min | 3:10 pm CDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −15 kt | 4 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 53 min | 3:12 pm CDT (20:12 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | −15 kt | -1 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 53 min | 3:12 pm CDT (20:12 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | −16 kt | -5 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 51 min | 3:10 pm CDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 29 kt | −16 kt | -6 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 51 min | 3:10 pm CDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 36 kt | −21 kt | -18 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 41 min | 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 55 kt | −18 kt | -28 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 47 min | 3:06 pm CDT (20:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 53 kt | −6 kt | -37 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 14 min | 3:33 pm CDT (20:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 43 kt | 0 | -49 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 30 min | 3:49 pm CDT (20:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLL | used from 0 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 180/21 | 200/24 17° | 200/15 13° | 200/7 8° | 260/21 -5° | 230/25 -13° | 260/18 -29° | 310/16 -39° | 360/27 -51° |
| DAL | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/15 | 210/22 19° | 210/17 13° | 230/12 8° | 250/26 -5° | 250/25 -14° | 260/34 -28° | 290/32 -38° | 310/23 -50° |
| OKC | used from 200 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 200/23 | 220/26 19° | 210/12 16° | 230/16 8° | 250/36 -6° | 250/45 -17° | 260/61 -28° | 270/51 -37° | 270/42 -49° |
| TUL | used from 250 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 210/24 | 220/29 18° | 240/17 14° | 250/16 8° | 260/28 -6° | 260/36 -18° | 270/63 -28° | 280/54 -37° | 290/46 -49° |
| MKC | used from 400 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 220/35 | 240/30 21° | 240/27 13° | 240/31 6° | 260/31 -7° | 250/43 -21° | 270/70 -28° | 280/72 -36° | 280/59 -49° |
| DSM | used from 600 nm out; 35 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots | 9 mi | 1,200 ft | 1,015 ft | 9:55 am CDT (14:55 UTC) |
| ACT Waco, TX | 40 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 516 ft | 14:51 UTC |
| FWS Fort Worth, TX | 90 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 700 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| GYI Sherman/Denison, TX | 170 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet | from the south (180°) at 13 knots | 9 mi | none | 749 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| ADM Ardmore, OK | 200 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 776 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| RVS Tulsa, OK | 310 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 638 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| CFV Coffeyville, KS | 380 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 14:52 UTC |
| CNU Chanute, KS | 410 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 1,002 ft | 14:52 UTC |
| IXD Olathe, KS | 490 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,087 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 540 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| LWD Lamoni, IA | 610 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,130 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | 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) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,130 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, 2:54 pm CDT (19:54 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 GRK, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- Changing between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) to: wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- Changing between Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) to: wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- Changing between Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC) to: wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 12 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 110 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 17 nm from the route, 120 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at GRK 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 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






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: Robert Gray Army Airfield, Des Moines International.
