Des Moines International Airport (DSM / KDSM) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Des Moines, United States of America
Des Moines
DSM/KDSM
Updated Tue 27 Oct, 17:56 local
- Active runway
- 13
- METAR wind
- 120° @ 7 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 13 - sunny side
- Sun
- 250° / 3°
Wind vector · +7 kt headwind
VFR
Sweet spot
Evening golden hour now, sunset in 21 min
Sweet spotWant a Telegram ping when KDSM flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Des Moines (DSM) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR120° @ 7 kt
19°C · 10+ sm · 1019 hPa
FEW050 BKN085
Evening golden hour now, sunset in 21 min
Runway alerts for Des Moines International Airport
$3/mo
Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at DSM, scored from each spot's view bearing.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short final 13 - sunny side Runway 13 | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 13 · Dep 13
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 54° | 9,004 ft | +2.8 kt | 6.4 kt | Standby |
| 23 | 234° | 9,004 ft | -2.8 kt | 6.4 kt | Standby |
| 13 | 132° | 9,001 ft | +6.8 kt | 1.5 kt | Both |
| 31 | 312° | 9,001 ft | -6.8 kt | 1.5 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Des Moines (KDSM)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.300 | Published |
| Approach | 120.175 | Assigned |
| Departure | 124.825 | Assigned |
| Ground | 121.900 | Published |
| Delivery | 134.150 | Published |
| ATIS | 119.550 | Published |
Lens for the top pin: Sony FE 200-600mm, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. Sony FE 200-600mmUniden Bearcat BC125ATFlightAware Pro Stick
Open the ATC frequency pageFrequently asked questions about plane spotting at Des Moines (DSM/KDSM)
Which runway is active at Des Moines (DSM/KDSM) right now?
As of Tue 27 Oct, 18:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 13. The METAR wind is 120° at 7 kt. 13 shows +6.8 kt headwind and 1.5 kt crosswind from the left. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Des Moines (DSM) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 3° elevation. Short final 13 - sunny side scores 72/100, 1234 m from runway 13, view bearing 161.2°, best as a afternoon spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 228° and 21°. Short final 13 - sunny side scores 85/100 on a 102.7° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at Des Moines International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Des Moines International Airport (DSM/KDSM) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 1 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at KDSM spotting locations?
KDSM spotting locations sun direction: Short final 13 - sunny side (runway 13) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Des Moines (DSM)?
Short final 13 - sunny side is 1234 m from the 13 centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Des Moines (KDSM)?
Monitor Tower 118.3 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, ATIS 119.55 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 118.3 MHz.
How do I know when Des Moines (DSM) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 120° at 7 kt, so 13 remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/KDSM#runway-alerts