Tucson International to Des Moines International TUS → DSM
1,002 nautical miles (1,153 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 051°, about 042° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 71-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:30 pm CDT (17:30 UTC). Right now TUS is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 5 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: 3 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 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 50 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 89 to 169 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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, 109 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 456 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 307 to 377 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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, 436 nm along 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 387 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 TUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (TUS, ABQ, TCC, GCK, SLN, OMA, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | −30 kt | 18 °C | 150 kt | 6 h 41 min | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −27 kt | 14 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 49 min | 2:04 pm CDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −27 kt | 11 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 49 min | 2:04 pm CDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −30 kt | 6 °C | 150 kt | 6 h 41 min | 1:56 pm CDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −34 kt | 2 °C | 154 kt | 6 h 30 min | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -2 °C | 158 kt | 6 h 21 min | 1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 41 kt | −41 kt | -7 °C | 161 kt | 6 h 13 min | 1:28 pm CDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 42 kt | −42 kt | -8 °C | 162 kt | 6 h 11 min | 1:26 pm CDT (18:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 52 kt | −52 kt | -20 °C | 172 kt | 5 h 50 min | 1:05 pm CDT (18:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 71 kt | −71 kt | -28 °C | 191 kt | 5 h 15 min | 12:30 pm CDT (17:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 71 kt | −70 kt | -36 °C | 190 kt | 5 h 16 min | 12:31 pm CDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 65 kt | −65 kt | -48 °C | 185 kt | 5 h 25 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/12 13° | 200/34 7° | 210/41 4° | 230/53 -7° | 220/69 -19° | 220/84 -27° | 220/88 -36° | 220/83 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 149 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| TCC | used from 347 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 496 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| SLN | used from 694 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| OMA | used from 843 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 942 nm out; 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS Tucson, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 4:57 am MST (11:57 UTC) |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 79 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 3,178 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 278 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 317 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 555 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,325 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 615 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| RPB Belleville, KS | 793 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,538 ft | ||||
| AFK Nebraska City, NE | 883 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 1,165 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| SDA Shenandoah, IA | 912 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 971 ft | 11:50 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 6,348 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, 12:30 pm CDT (17:30 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 TUS, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm MST (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 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 TUS 5:53 pm MST (00:53 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: Tucson International, Des Moines International.