Plan a flight · Mon 10:39 am EDT (14:39 UTC)

Wilmington International to Des Moines International ILM → DSM

863 nautical miles (993 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 305°, about 315° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 5:47 pm CDT (22:47 UTC). Right now ILM is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 9 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19. 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 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 159 to 238 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 208 to 258 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 228 to 307 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 ILM.

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

B38M at 36,000 ft, 5 nm north, 10:25 am EDT (14:25 UTC): light turbulence above 36,000 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 1425/FL360/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT 360
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
over ILM
Time
14:25 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light at 36,000 ft
H25B descending, 5 nm north, 8:09 am EDT (12:09 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILM UA /OV ILM/TM 1209/FLDURD/TP H25B/SK TOPS 009 BASES 006 SCT
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILM
Where
over ILM
Time
12:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
H25B
Sky
tops 900 ft bases 600 ft scattered
B739 at 33,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 33. 149 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GSO/TM 1300/FL330/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 33
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over GSO
Time
13:00 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 33
BE33 at 7,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 188 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM/TM 1253/FL070/TP BE33/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 45
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over BZM
Time
12:53 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
BE33
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 45
A321 at 30,000 ft, 9 nm southwest, 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 43. 198 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM330010/TM 1155/FL300/TP A321/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 43
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of BZM
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 43
C210 at 7,000 ft, 38 nm southwest, 9:31 am EDT (13:31 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 45. 218 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV SUG040025/TM 1331/FL070/TP C210/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 45
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm northeast (040°) of SUG
Time
13:31 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
C210
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ztlfd 45
C750 at 43,000 ft, 28 nm southwest, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 15. 218 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV HMV170030/TM 1314/FL430/TP C750/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 15
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
30 nm south (170°) of HMV
Time
13:14 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 15
C56X at 18,000 ft, 27 nm southwest, 9:01 am EDT (13:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 18,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 347 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV LOZ/TM 1301/FL180/TP C56X/SK SKC/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
over LOZ
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
E55P at 14,000 ft, 39 nm southwest, 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 367 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV SME/TM 1213/FL140/TP E55P/SK TOP 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
over SME
Time
12:13 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
top 1,000 ft
BE58 climbing, 14 nm northeast, 10:08 am EDT (14:08 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 397 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX045002/TM 1408/FLDURC/TP BE58/SK OVC 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm northeast (045°) of LEX
Time
14:08 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE58
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
BE30 climbing, 11 nm northeast, 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 397 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX180002/TM 1340/FLDURC/TP BE30/SK TOPS 013
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm south (180°) of LEX
Time
13:40 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE30
Sky
tops 1,300 ft
E55P climbing, 11 nm northeast, 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 397 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX270002/TM 1222/FLDURC/TP E55P/SK VV002 TOPS 018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
2 nm west (270°) of LEX
Time
12:22 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft, tops 1,800 ft
A319 climbing, 15 nm northeast, 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 397 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX045003/TM 1155/FLDURC/TP A319/SK TOPS 020
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
3 nm northeast (045°) of LEX
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A319
Sky
tops 2,000 ft
E170 at 26,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 10:17 am EDT (14:17 UTC): no turbulence. 407 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FLM220015/TM 1417/FL260/TP E170/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
15 nm southwest (220°) of FLM
Time
14:17 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
none

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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (ILM, FLO, RDU, TRI, LOU, EVV, SPI, BRL, 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
4,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	+14 kt	15 °C	106 kt	8 h 08 min	5:47 pm CDT (22:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	+15 kt	15 °C	105 kt	8 h 13 min	5:52 pm CDT (22:52 UTC)
8,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	+16 kt	12 °C	104 kt	8 h 18 min	5:57 pm CDT (22:57 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 19 kt	+19 kt	8 °C	101 kt	8 h 33 min	6:12 pm CDT (23:12 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+22 kt	5 °C	98 kt	8 h 48 min	6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	8 h 54 min	6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 25 kt	+24 kt	-4 °C	96 kt	8 h 59 min	6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 26 kt	+26 kt	-7 °C	94 kt	9 h 11 min	6:50 pm CDT (23:50 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 30 kt	+30 kt	-19 °C	90 kt	9 h 35 min	7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 43 kt	+43 kt	-33 °C	77 kt	11 h 12 min	8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 51 kt	+52 kt	-39 °C	68 kt	12 h 41 min	10:20 pm CDT (03:20 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 50 kt	+50 kt	-48 °C	70 kt	12 h 20 min	9:59 pm CDT (02:59 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
ILM	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	330/14	320/19 15°	340/22 11°	340/20 6°	340/32 -6°	340/34 -19°	350/40 -32°	340/35 -41°	300/33 -50°
FLO	used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line	330/11	330/15 14°	330/22 10°	350/21 7°	340/30 -5°	350/37 -19°	350/34 -32°	350/32 -42°	310/37 -51°
RDU	used from 99 nm out; 64 nm from the line	340/12	330/17 14°	320/20 10°	330/25 6°	340/34 -6°	340/38 -19°	330/37 -32°	330/35 -42°	310/36 -51°
TRI	used from 149 nm out; 84 nm from the line		340/26 15°	330/23 10°	330/23 6°	290/28 -6°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -34°	310/47 -41°	320/47 -49°
LOU	used from 347 nm out; 73 nm from the line	260/17	270/15 15°	260/19 10°	280/27 5°	280/30 -7°	280/29 -18°	280/44 -34°	290/56 -39°	310/56 -48°
EVV	used from 496 nm out; 57 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°
SPI	used from 595 nm out; 37 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°
BRL	used from 694 nm out; 23 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°
DSM	used from 793 nm out; 45 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
ILM Wilmington, NC	departure	VFR	from the west-northwest (290°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	31 ft	9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)
FAY Fayetteville, NC	59 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	189 ft	13:53 UTC
VUJ Albemarle, NC	129 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	609 ft	14:15 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	258 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,100 ft	1,518 ft	13:53 UTC
LNP Wise, VA	278 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	2,684 ft	14:35 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	397 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	4 mi	200 ft	979 ft	14:09 UTC
LOU Louisville, KY	446 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	545 ft	13:53 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	545 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	13:53 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	625 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	681 ft	13:54 UTC
FSW Fort Madison, IA	744 nm out, 1 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	721 ft	14:15 UTC
OTM Ottumwa, IA	803 nm out, 1 nm east of the line	no report just now				845 ft
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	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)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 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, 5:47 pm CDT (22:47 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 ILM, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 2 nm from the route, 40 nm along the route · security · ZDC
6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 10 nm from the route, 79 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Wilmington International, Des Moines International.