Pensacola International to Des Moines International PNS → DSM
734 nautical miles (845 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 337°, about 339° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 UTC). Right now PNS is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 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: 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 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 route from 526 to 645 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 PNS.
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (MOB, MGM, JAN, MEM, CGI, STL, COU, 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 | 240° at 17 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 6 h 07 min | 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +1 kt | 16 °C | 119 kt | 6 h 10 min | 3:48 pm CDT (20:48 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +1 kt | 12 °C | 119 kt | 6 h 10 min | 3:48 pm CDT (20:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +3 kt | 9 °C | 117 kt | 6 h 16 min | 3:54 pm CDT (20:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 6 h 23 min | 4:01 pm CDT (21:01 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | +7 kt | 1 °C | 113 kt | 6 h 30 min | 4:08 pm CDT (21:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | +9 kt | -3 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 37 min | 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 22 kt | +10 kt | -6 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 40 min | 4:18 pm CDT (21:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 27 kt | +11 kt | -17 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 44 min | 4:22 pm CDT (21:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 49 kt | +41 kt | -30 °C | 79 kt | 9 h 17 min | 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 52 kt | +44 kt | -38 °C | 76 kt | 9 h 39 min | 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 44 kt | +39 kt | -49 °C | 81 kt | 9 h 04 min | 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOB | used from 0 nm out; 46 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 18° | L/V 11° | 300/9 6° | 330/12 -4° | 330/12 -16° | 340/28 -30° | 340/36 -40° | 360/34 -51° |
| MGM | used from 99 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 350/14 | 320/18 17° | 320/17 11° | 300/14 5° | 330/13 -5° | 310/12 -17° | 330/29 -30° | 340/40 -40° | 350/32 -50° |
| JAN | used from 149 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 210/8 | 230/13 18° | 240/10 11° | 260/11 6° | 280/16 -5° | 260/12 -15° | 330/34 -30° | 320/39 -40° | 340/34 -51° |
| MEM | used from 198 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 240/14 | 260/23 16° | 250/22 11° | 250/20 7° | 270/24 -6° | 270/27 -16° | 310/49 -30° | 310/46 -39° | 320/43 -50° |
| CGI | used from 397 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/17 15° | 250/25 11° | 260/27 7° | 270/35 -7° | 280/38 -17° | 300/63 -31° | 300/62 -38° | 300/55 -49° |
| STL | used from 447 nm out; 77 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° |
| COU | used from 496 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 240/28 | 240/22 17° | 250/18 12° | 260/22 6° | 270/23 -7° | 260/39 -19° | 290/70 -30° | 290/71 -37° | 290/58 -48° |
| DSM | used from 645 nm out; 64 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNS Pensacola, FL | departure | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 120 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
| MVC Monroeville, AL | 60 nm out, 16 nm east of the line | no report just now | 419 ft | ||||
| DYA Demopolis, AL | 129 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 111 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 189 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 13:56 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 238 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| NQA Millington, TN | 327 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 322 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| PYN Piedmont, MO | 437 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 466 ft | ||||
| UBX Cuba, MO | 506 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,023 ft | ||||
| COU Columbia, MO | 556 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 13:54 UTC |
| MBY Moberly, MO | 595 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 866 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| CNC Chariton, IA | 704 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,050 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| 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 1,050 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, 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 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 PNS, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 575 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at PNS 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 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: Pensacola International, Des Moines International.