METAR & TAF KDSM
Current METAR
Observed 07:54Z
KDSM 280754Z 31017G29KT 10SM OVC018 09/04 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP131 T00890044
- Wind
- 310° @ 17G29 kt
- Visibility
- 10 SM
- Temp / Dew
- 9°C / 4°C
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Clouds
- OVC
- Density alt
- 468 ft
- Ceiling
- 1,800 ft AGL
- Rules
- MVFR
Airport info & contacts
Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.
Location
- From city
- 3 NM SW
- VFR sectional
- OMAHA
- ARTCC
- ZMP · MINNEAPOLIS
- NOTAM facility
- DSM (NOTAM-D)
Airport manager
- Name
- MR. BRIAN MULCAHY
- Phone
- 515-256-5100
- Address
- 5800 FLEUR DRIVE, SUITE 207, DES MOINES IA 50321-2854
Flight service · Hours
- FSS FOD
- FORT DODGE1-800-WX-BRIEF
- Attendance
- ALL
Frequencies
Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.
Runways & pattern
Full pagePattern entry · RWY 31
RIGHT TRAFFIC| Runway | Heading (°M) | Length | Surface | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 53° / 233° | 9,004 ft | CONC | Standard L |
| 13/31Favored | 131° / 311° | 9,001 ft | CONC | 31 R |
Runway end performance
| End | TORA | TODA | ASDA | LDA | VGSI | Approach lights | Obstruction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | — | — | — | — | PAPI 4-box left(3°) | MALSR | — |
| 23 | — | — | — | — | PAPI 4-box left(3°) | — | 67', pole, 2322' from thr, 375' R of cntrln, slope 34 |
| 13 | 9,001' | 9,001' | 9,001' | 9,001' | PAPI 4-box right(3°) | MALSR | — |
| 31 | 9,001' | 9,001' | 9,001' | 9,001' | PAPI 4-box left(3°) | ALSF2 | — |
Declared distances in feet. TORA = takeoff run available, TODA = takeoff distance, ASDA = accelerate-stop, LDA = landing distance.
Airport sketch
Runways drawn to scale from FAA survey coordinates, rendered over live satellite imagery. Not for navigation.
Approaches & charts
ILS · 3
Services on the field
Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.
Fuel & services
- Fuel
- 100LLA
- Oxygen (bottled)
- HIGH/LOW
- Oxygen (bulk)
- HIGH/LOW
- Airframe repair
- Major
- Power plant repair
- Major
- Other services
- AFRT,AMB,AVNCS,CARGO,CHTR,SALES,SURV
Ramp & ground
- Transient storage
- Tie-down
- Hangar
- Landing fee
- No fee published
- Customs
- Not available
- Beacon schedule
- SS-SR
- Beacon
- White / Green (civil land)(WG)
- Wind indicator
- Lighted
- Segmented circle
- No
Fuel & FBOs
Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.
Airport notes
Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.
General notes
- Contract fuel is available at 515-256-5330.Show FAA
- Modern Aviation FBO is located at the north general aviation ramp.Show FAA
- No taxi to terminal gates A2 or A4 from taxiway D1 when an aircraft is parked at remote spot R6. Request taxi via taxiway E.Show FAA
- Informal noise abatement procedures are in effect. Expect air traffic control to assign preferred runway.Show FAA
- No taxiing is permitted between gates A5A and A5B.Show FAA
- Cross bleed engine starts are prohibited on the air carrier ramp.Show FAA
- The maximum aircraft weight on the south general aviation apron is 170,000 pounds; all other FBO aprons have a maximum of 80,000 pounds.Show FAA
- Taxiway P east of taxiway D wingtip clearance is limited to 121.5 feet. Caution is advised for aircraft design group V and larger aircraft.Show FAA
- Runway 05 approach end has limited visibility from the tower. The tower cannot easily identify if an aircraft is over the hold short line at taxiway P7. Runway 05 arrivals use caution and ensure you are correctly lined up with runway 05 and not taxiway P.Show FAA
- A321 aircraft are limited to 190,000 pounds on runway 5-23 and taxiway P. A321 exceeding 190,000 pounds without airport authority waiver require tower provided 13-31.Show FAA
- Enter the terminal de-ice pad queue from taxilane N; do not enter the pad from taxilane N4.Show FAA
- Terminal apron de-ice spot N2 and associated taxilane are limited to aircraft design group II unless coordinated with IDS on frequency 129.875.Show FAA
- Iowa Air National Guard south ramp pavement classification number is 78 rigid dual wheel tandem. Iowa Air National Guard west ramp pavement classification number is 87 rigid dual wheel tandem.Show FAA
- The terminal apron taxilane is for Airplane Design Group III aircraft with wingspan less than 118 feet only, with Airplane Design Group IV aircraft with wingspan less than 172 feet permitted at gate A4 only.Show FAA
- Updated: Scheduled Airbus A321 aircraft over 200,000 pounds require an overweight aircraft permit; contact airport authority at 515-256-5000.Show FAA
- The terminal apron taxilane is for Airplane Design Group III aircraft only, with Airplane Design Group IV aircraft permitted at gate A4 only.Show FAA
- Birds are on and in the vicinity of the airport.Show FAA
- Arranged ramp space is available for military and military-contracted aircraft for official business only with limited support. Prior permission required; contact DSN 261-8360 or 261-8361, commercial 515-261-8360 or 515-261-8361. The FBO will provide contract fuel. Military crews can contact HAWKI on frequency 252.9.Show FAA
- Use caution when landing over raised lights in the overruns and runway thresholds at Des Moines.Show FAA
Runway surface & condition
- 13/31The pavement classification rating value for runway 13/31 is 696 rigid dual wheel tandem.Show FAA
- 05/23The pavement classification rating value is 696 rigid dual wheel tandem.Show FAA
Approach & departure obstructions
- 23The PAPI is unusable beyond 9 degrees right of the centerline on runway 23.Show FAA
Other notes
- Flight notification service ADCUS is available Monday through Friday from 0830 to 1700. For Saturday, Sunday, holidays, and night customs service make appointments Monday through Friday from 0830 to 1700. At least 3 hours advance notice is required.Show FAA
- MANAGERThe executive director is the airport manager.Show FAA
VFR map & nearby airports
VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.
Key facts · KDSM
Answer card- ICAO
- KDSM
- Name
- DES MOINES INTL
- Location
- DES MOINES, IOWA
- Elevation
- 957.9 ft MSL
- Traffic pattern altitude
- 1,957.9 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
- Control tower
- Towered · 24
- Total runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 05/23 · 9,004 ft
- Published ILS approaches
- 3
- Published frequencies
- 16
- Magnetic variation
- 1°
- Current flight rules
- MVFR
- Current wind
- 310° at 17 kt
- Favored runway now
- RWY 31
Des Moines Intl is in Des Moines, Iowa. Field elevation is 957.9 ft MSL. The airport has two concrete runways. The longest is runway 05/23 at 9,004 ft. The tower is open 24 hours. Three ILS approaches are published for runway ends 05, 13 and 31. Pattern altitude is not published in the facts, so use the current Chart Supplement before you fly. For light piston traffic, a standard 1,000 ft AGL pattern is often used. Verify the local procedure before departure.
Modern Aviation and Signature Aviation are both on the field. Modern Aviation is on the north general aviation ramp. Both FBOs carry 100LL and Jet A. If you need customs or ADCUS service, the published remarks say appointments are required for Saturday, Sunday, holidays and night customs service. At least 3 hours notice is required. This is a busy Class C field with airline traffic, so expect close coordination with tower and ground. Runway 05 arrivals need extra attention because the tower has limited visibility of that approach end. The remarks also note a taxiway clearance limit east of taxiway D. Follow de-ice pad routing exactly. Check the current Chart Supplement for any noise or curfew restrictions before flying into the field.