Des Moines International Airport
DSM · KDSM · Des Moines, IA · Towered · Print kneeboard
FAA airport diagramView full size ↓ Nearby now
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Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night2026-08-04 · night begins 09:00 PM
| Event | Local (CDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 05:41 AM | 10:41Z |
| Sunrise | 06:12 AM | 11:12Z |
| Sunset | 08:29 PM | 01:29Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 09:00 PM | 02:00Z |
Plan a flight from KDSM
Past 24 hours category · wind · ceiling · visibility trends
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Density altitude today projected curve · departure window · takeoff roll
Winds aloft NOAA forecast · 3,000 to 53,000 ft
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Advisories
NOTAMs
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Pilot reports
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Airspace hazards
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Runways
RWY 13LEFT traffic
- Heading
- 131° mag · 132° true
- Dimensions
- 9,001 × 150 ft
- TPA
- 2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- Concrete
- Lights
- 4-light PAPI (right) (3°) + MALSR
- ILS
- ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 111.9 (VGU) · GS 3.00°
- CTAF
- 122.95
More details — RWY 13
- Threshold elev
- 913 ft
- Markings
- precision
- Threshold crossing height
- 54 ft
- TDZ elevation
- 924 ft
- Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
- 9,001 / 9,001 / 9,001 / 9,001 ft
- End lights
- centerline
Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 9,004 ft | |
| 13/31 | 9,001 ft |
Prefer one flat page? Full runway details for KDSM → · New to pattern entries? The 45° entry, explained → · Teaching here? Print the KDSM kneeboard →
Comms & NavAids
Communication frequencies
Before taxi
“Des Moines”Taxi & takeoff
“Des Moines”Departure & arrival
“Des Moines”Arrival
“Des Moines”Also
ATC assigns the exact frequency (in your clearance or on handoff) — which one depends on your SID (departing) or STAR (arriving).
By procedure & sector (10 frequencies)
| Frequency | Used by |
|---|---|
| 120.45 | CLASS C/S |
| 123.9 | CLASS C |
| 135.2 | CLASS C/S |
| 243.0 | EMERG |
| 257.8 | LCL/P IC |
| 307.15 | APCH/P DEP/P IC · CLASS C |
| 317.55 | CD/P |
| 348.6 | GND/P IC |
| 350.3 | APCH/S DEP/S · CLASS C/S |
| 360.7 | APCH/S · CLASS C/S |
Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).
Instrument landing systems
RWY 05 · RWY 13 · RWY 31
| Runway | ILS |
|---|---|
| RWY 05 | ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 111.5 (DWW) · GS 3.00° |
| RWY 13 | ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 111.9 (VGU) · GS 3.00° |
| RWY 31 | ILS/DME · CAT III · LOC 110.3 (DSM) · GS 3.00° |
Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).
Nearby navigation aids
DSM 117.50 · TNU 112.50
| NavAid | Type | Freq · ch | Range | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM · Des Moines | VORTAC | 117.50 · 122X | High | r349° / 5.8 NM |
| TNU · Newton | VOR/DME | 112.50 · 72X | Low | r236° / 28.8 NM |
Prefer one flat list? All KDSM frequencies →
Charts & procedures
Lowest minimums here: ILS with vertical guidance · VFR sectional →
Airport info
From the field
Do you run KDSM, or an FBO, flight school, or shop on it? Claim your listing to keep fuel, fees, hours, and services current.
Airport information
- ICAO / IATA
- KDSM / DSM
- Coordinates
- 41.5340, -93.6567
- Elevation
- 958 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 1E
- Sectional chart
- OMAHA
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- Yes
- Tower hours
- 24 hours
- Airspace
- Class C
- Weather station
- ASOS · 119.55 · ☎ 515-218-1035
- ARTCC
- MINNEAPOLIS (ZMP)
- Flight service (FSS)
- FORT DODGE · 122.5 · 1-800-WX-BRIEF
- FSS outlet
- RCO → Fort Dodge Radio (24)
- NOTAM facility
- DSM
- Attendance
- ALL ALL
- Beacon
- white-green (SS-SR)
- Segmented circle
- No
- Wind indicator
- lighted
- FAR 139 class
- I C
- GPS MON airport
- Yes
- Activated
- 1940/04
- Distance from city
- 3 SW
Night operations
- Rotating beacon
- white-green · SS-SR
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 122.95 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
Runway lighting aids — 05: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 23: 4-light PAPI (left) · 13: 4-light PAPI (right) + MALSR · 31: 4-light PAPI (left) + ALSF2.
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are under Sun & FAA night in the Weather section.
Services fuel · repairs · oxygen · attendance
- Fuel available
- 100LL, Jet A
- Bottled oxygen
- HIGH/LOW
- Bulk oxygen
- HIGH/LOW
- Airframe service
- MAJOR
- Powerplant service
- MAJOR
- Parking
- tiedowns, hangars
- Other services
- Air freight, Air ambulance, Avionics, Cargo, Charter, Aircraft sales, Survey
Ownership & management 2 contacts
Remarks FAA · 23 notes
General
- CONTR FUEL - 515-256-5330.
- BIRDS ON & INVOF ARPT.
- INFORMAL NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES IN EFFECT. EXPECT ATC TO ASSIGN PREFERRED RY.
- IANG SOUTH RAMP PCN 78 R/B/W/T. IANG WEST RAMP PCN 87 R/B/W/T.
- MAX ACFT WT SOUTH GA APRN 170,000 LBS ALL OTHER FBO APRN 80,000 LBS.
- RWY 05 APCH END HAS LTD VIS FROM THE TWR. TWR CANNOT EASILY ID IF AN ACFT IS OVER THE HOLD SHORT LINE AT TWY P7. RWY 05 ARRIVALS - USE CTN AND ENSURE YOU ARE CORRECTLY LINED UP WITH RWY 05 AND NOT TWY P.
- CROSS BLEED ENGINE STARTS ON AIR CARRIER RAMP PROHIBITED.
- USE CAUTION WHEN LNDG OVER RAISED LIGHTS IN THE OVERRUNS AND RWY THLDS AT DSM.
- ARNG RAMP AVBL FOR MIL AND MIL-CONTRACTED ACFT FOR OFFL BUS ONLY WITH LTD SUPPORT. PPR; CTC DSN 261-8360/8361, C515-261-8360/8361. FBO WILL PROVIDE CONTRACT FUEL. MIL CREWS CAN CTC HAWKI ON 252.9
- A321 AIRCRAFT LTD TO 190,000 LBS ON RWY 5-23 AND TWY P. A321 EXCEEDING 190,000 LBS WO ARPT AUTH WAIVER REQ ATCT PRVD 13-31.
- TERMINAL APRON TAXILANE ADG III AC ONLY, ADG IV AC AT GATE 25 ONLY.
- MODERN AVIATION FBO LCTD AT NORTH GA APRON.
- TERMINAL APRON TAXILANE ADG III AC ONLY, ADG IV AC AT GATE A4 ONLY.
- TRML APRON TAXILANE ADG III (ACFT WINGSPAN LESS THAN 118 FT) ONLY, ADG IV (ACFT WINGSPAN LESS THAN 172 FT) ACFT AT GATE A4 ONLY.
- TERMINAL APRON DE-ICE SPOT N2 AND ASSOCIATED TAXILANE LIMITED TO ADGII UNLESS COORDINATED WITH IDS 129.875.
- NO TAXI BETWEEN GATES 24 AND 26.
- NO TAXI TO TRML GATES 21/23/25 FROM TXY D1 WHEN AN AIRCRAFT IS PARKED AT REMOTE SPOT R6 - REQUEST TXY E.
- ENTER TERMINAL DE-ICE PAD QUEUE FROM TAXILANE N, DO NOT ENTER PAD FROM TAXILANE N4.
- TWY P E OF TWY D WINGTIP CLEARANCE LIMITED TO 121.5 FT, CAUTION ADVISED FOR ADG V AND LARGER AIRCRAFT.
Runways
- PCR VALUE: 696/R/D/W/T
- PCR VALUE: 696/R/D/W/T
- PAPI UNUSBL BYD 9 DEGS RIGHT OF CNTRLN.
Contact
- EXEC DIR
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Nearby airports
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Also nearby: 20IA Hobbes Field (private) (7 NM) · Y76 Morningstar Field (7 NM) · IA85 Tuinstra Airfield (private) (8 NM) · IA41 Laverty Field (private) (8 NM) · IA20 Agrivation Field (private) (12 NM)
About KDSM
Des Moines International Airport (DSM · KDSM) is an airport in Des Moines, IA, at 958 ft MSL. It has 2 runways, the longest 9,004 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KDSM, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does KDSM have a control tower?
Yes. Des Moines International Airport has an operating FAA control tower. See the Comms & NavAids section for tower and ground frequencies.
What is the longest runway at KDSM?
Des Moines International Airport has 2 runways; the longest is 9,004 ft. See the Runways section for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is KDSM?
Des Moines International Airport is in Des Moines, IA, at an elevation of 958 ft MSL. Coordinates: 41.5340, -93.6567.
Fly out of KDSM often?
Save KDSM as your home base in the SkyReady app for a one-tap Go/No-Go readiness brief, weather alerts, and automatic FAA currency — free to log.
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open KDSM in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.