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The Pilots Desk
Large airportScheduled service

Des Moines International Airport

IATA DSMICAO KDSMLocal DSM🇺🇸 Des Moines
Coordinates
41.5340°N, 93.6567°W
Elevation
958 ft (292 m)
Type
Large airport
Region
US-IA
Time zone
Chicago(UTC-05:00)
Magnetic variation
0.3° E

Daylight today(Aug 30, 2026, local time)

Civil dawn
06:11
Sunrise
06:40
Sunset
19:53
Civil dusk
20:22

About 13h 13m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.

About Des Moines International Airport

Des Moines International Airport

Des Moines International Airport is a joint civilian-military commercial service airport 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Des Moines, the capital of Iowa.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Live weather

KDSM
Checking for pilot reports…

NOTAMs

KDSM

Reference only — not an official briefing. Always obtain a certified briefing (e.g. 1800wxbrief.com / your AIS) before flight.

NOTAM data via the FAA NOTAM system.

Live departures & arrivals

Loading live flights…

Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.

Where you can fly from here

Loading current routes…

Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.

Live traffic nearby

Aircraft currently within ~40 nm, from live ADS-B. Positions are approximately real-time — not for navigation.

Loading live traffic…

Live ADS-B by adsb.lol & the OpenSky Network. Not for navigation.

Map

Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.

Runways (2)

RunwayLengthWidthSurfaceLightingStatus
5 / 239,004 ft / 2,744 m150 ftConcrete-groovedLightedOpen
13 / 319,001 ft / 2,744 m150 ftAspLightedOpen

Radio frequencies (8)

TypeDescriptionFrequency
A/DAPP/DEP118.600 MHz
ATISATIS119.550 MHz
CLDCLNC DEL134.150 MHz
GNDGND121.900 MHz
OPSANG OPS MAINT138.150 MHz
RDOFORT DODGE RDO122.650 MHz
TWRTWR118.300 MHz
UNICUNICOM122.950 MHz

Navaids(2)

Airlines & destinations

Nonstop destinations (17)

Route data from OpenFlights — historical and may be out of date. Check current schedules.

Instrument procedures & charts

Cycle 2608 · effective Aug 6, 2026 – Sep 3, 2026 Not for navigation — confirm currency on the official FAA source.

Airport diagram (1)

Instrument approaches (4)

Departure procedures (SIDs) (1)

Takeoff & alternate minimums (2)

Runway hot spots (1)

Showing 9 of 15 FAA procedures on this overview. Always fly the current, official chart. Full charts page.

Airspace in this area(2)

NameClassTypeFloorCeiling
DES MOINES INTL AIRPORT CLASS CClass CControlled2200 ft MSL5000 ft MSL
DES MOINES INTL AIRPORT CLASS CClass CControlledGND5000 ft MSL

Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all United States airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.

Weather by month

Share of VFR / marginal-VFR / IFR / low-IFR conditions by month over the last 8 years, with the prevailing wind and typical density altitude. Historical climatology — not a forecast.

Prevailing wind: S (from about 180°), on 12% of observations, averaging 8 kt.

MonthVFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR% VFRMedian DA
Jan64%-1,234 ft
Feb79%-1,056 ft
Mar74%-166 ft
Apr82%560 ft
May80%1,427 ft
Jun92%2,173 ft
Jul92%2,215 ft
Aug92%2,095 ft
Sep89%1,695 ft
Oct84%705 ft
Nov78%-256 ft
Dec63%-735 ft

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR· density altitude ranges ~-1,2342,215 ft through the year· Source: NWS/IEM ASOS archive.

Tall obstacles nearby

ObstacleHeight AGLTop (MSL)Lit
Obstacle630 ft896 ft
AT&T Microwave Tower459 ft932 ft
Obstacle446 ft991 ft
Obstacle407 ft866 ft
Obstacle325 ft896 ft
Obstacle276 ft942 ft
Obstacle272 ft942 ft
MidAmerican Energy Wind Turbine886 ft

Tallest obstacles within ~10 nm. Data via OpenAIP. Reference only — consult official charts.

Nearby airports

Great-circle distance and true bearing from Des Moines International Airport.

Wikipedia Live ATC audio Live tracking (FR24) Open in Maps
🇺🇸 More airports in United States📘 Flying in the United States: a pilot's guide

Frequently asked questions

What is the ICAO code for Des Moines International Airport?

The ICAO code for Des Moines International Airport is KDSM, and its IATA code is DSM.

Where is Des Moines International Airport located?

Des Moines International Airport is large airport located in Des Moines, United States, at an elevation of 958 ft (292 m).

How many runways does Des Moines International Airport have?

Des Moines International Airport has 2 runways, the longest being 9,004 ft / 2,744 m.

Which airlines fly to Des Moines International Airport?

Airlines historically serving Des Moines International Airport include Air France, AirTran Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, among 10 carriers (based on OpenFlights route data, which may be out of date).

How many destinations are served from Des Moines International Airport?

Historical data lists 17 nonstop destinations from Des Moines International Airport. Always check current schedules.

What time zone is Des Moines International Airport in?

Des Moines International Airport is in the America/Chicago time zone (UTC-05:00).

What is the magnetic variation at Des Moines International Airport?

The magnetic variation (declination) at Des Moines International Airport is approximately 0.3° E, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.

What airports are near Des Moines International Airport?

The nearest airport to Des Moines International Airport is Hobbes Field (20IA), about 6.6 nm to the w, followed by Morningstar Field and Tuinstra Airfield.

Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?

No. Des Moines International Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.