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

Sarasota/Bradenton International to Des Moines International SRQ → DSM

1,009 nautical miles (1,162 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 330°, about 335° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC). Right now SRQ is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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: 141 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). Near the route, 880 nm along 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 SRQ.

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

B38M at 36,000 ft, 37 nm south, 9:39 am EDT (13:39 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RSW UA /OV RSW290055/TM 1339/FL360/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through RSW
Where
55 nm west (290°) of RSW
Time
13:39 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
UAL2307 at 34,000 ft, 29 nm northeast, 8:37 am EDT (12:37 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 130° at 47 knots. 150 nm along the route, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2307 2951N 08333W 1237 F340 130/047KT TB LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B752 at 35,000 ft, 27 nm east, 8:38 am EDT (12:38 UTC): light chop turbulence. 190 nm along the route, 27 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV SZW120030/TM 1238/FL350/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
30 nm southeast (120°) of SZW
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
occasional light chop
M20P at 10,000 ft, 21 nm west, 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 230 nm along the route, 21 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV SZW270040/TM 1253/FL100/TP M20P/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of SZW
Time
12:53 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
M20P
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
C560 at 8,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 9:14 am EDT (13:14 UTC): clear from 8,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 350 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MGM UA /OV MGM 5N/TM 1314/FL080/TP C560/SK SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MGM
Where
mgm 5N
Time
13:14 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
clear
SF50 at 2,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 8:55 am EDT (12:55 UTC): remarks: great visibility, no tops/bases reported. 350 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MGM UA /OV 6 MILES E MGM /TM 1255/FL020/TP SF50/RM GREAT VIS, NO TOPS/BASES REPORTED
```
Report
a routine report filed through MGM
Where
6 miles east mgm
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Remarks
great visibility, no tops/bases reported
CRJ9 at 1,200 ft, 20 nm southwest, 7:45 am EDT (11:45 UTC): light haze. 350 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MGM UA /OV MGM 2E/TM 1145/FL012/TP CRJ9/WX -HZ
```
Report
a routine report filed through MGM
Where
mgm 2E
Time
11:45 UTC
Height
at 1,200 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Weather
light haze
BE20 at 17,800 ft, 12 nm west, 8:23 am EDT (12:23 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 13. 360 nm along the route, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV MGM359015/TM 1223/FL178/TP BE20/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD 13
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
15 nm north (359°) of MGM
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 17,800 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ztlfd 13

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 12 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, MGM, BHM, HSV, MEM, CGI, STL, COU, 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 12 kt	+9 kt		111 kt	9 h 05 min	6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC)
6,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	+10 kt	16 °C	110 kt	9 h 10 min	6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC)
8,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	+10 kt	12 °C	110 kt	9 h 10 min	6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 17 kt	+11 kt	9 °C	109 kt	9 h 15 min	6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	+12 kt	5 °C	108 kt	9 h 21 min	6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	+12 kt	1 °C	108 kt	9 h 21 min	6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	+13 kt	-3 °C	107 kt	9 h 26 min	6:36 pm CDT (23:36 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 17 kt	+13 kt	-6 °C	107 kt	9 h 26 min	6:36 pm CDT (23:36 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 24 kt	+19 kt	-18 °C	101 kt	9 h 59 min	7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 42 kt	+40 kt	-31 °C	80 kt	12 h 37 min	9:47 pm CDT (02:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 45 kt	+45 kt	-39 °C	75 kt	13 h 27 min	10:37 pm CDT (03:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 39 kt	+38 kt	-50 °C	82 kt	12 h 18 min	9:28 pm CDT (02:28 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
PIE	used from 0 nm out; 11 nm from the line	360/14	010/20 18°	320/11 13°	290/16 8°	340/11 -6°	350/21 -17°	360/39 -32°	010/39 -42°	350/17 -50°
TLH	used from 100 nm out; 79 nm from the line	360/24	350/19 18°	340/18 11°	320/14 6°	360/12 -5°	350/21 -17°	350/29 -32°	360/34 -41°	340/33 -53°
CSG	used from 250 nm out; 72 nm from the line	340/20	340/15 17°	330/19 11°	320/19 5°	330/11 -4°	300/14 -17°	330/28 -31°	340/42 -40°	350/33 -51°
MGM	used from 300 nm out; 37 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°
BHM	used from 400 nm out; 6 nm from the line	310/11	310/13 16°	310/18 11°	300/17 6°	300/14 -5°	300/20 -17°	320/35 -30°	320/43 -40°	340/38 -50°
HSV	used from 450 nm out; 39 nm from the line	290/11	300/10 15°	300/17 12°	290/20 6°	290/18 -5°	290/25 -17°	310/38 -31°	320/47 -40°	330/43 -50°
MEM	used from 550 nm out; 83 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 600 nm out; 64 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 750 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°
COU	used from 800 nm out; 44 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°
BRL	used from 900 nm out; 70 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 949 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
SRQ Sarasota/Bradenton, FL	departure	VFR	from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	29 ft	9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)
SPG St Petersburg, FL	20 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (010°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	6 ft	13:53 UTC
TLH Tallahassee, FL	200 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (360°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	83 ft	13:53 UTC
DHN Dothan, AL	280 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	400 ft	12:55 UTC
TOI Troy, AL	320 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	397 ft	13:53 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	430 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	13:53 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	590 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	13:53 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO	690 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	341 ft	14:03 UTC
SUS St Louis, MO	790 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	463 ft	13:54 UTC
MYJ Mexico, MO	840 nm out, 15 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	822 ft	13:55 UTC
TVK Centerville, IA	949 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR Weather: haze	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	6 mi	none	1,023 ft	13:55 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 1,023 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, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 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 SRQ, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at SRQ 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 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 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: Sarasota/Bradenton International, Des Moines International.