Subject: VFR Practice Areas & Transition Fixes

Cancellation: 11/17/2025 1200 (UTC)

In an effort to improve safety, traffic flow, and orderliness for VFR aircraft arriving and departing DSM airport for the purpose of flight training, the DSM Air Traffic Control Tower, in collaboration with local flight schools, has developed practice areas and ‘transition fixes’. These unpublished practice areas and procedures are available to any pilot who desires to participate.

Pilots are encouraged to become familiar with practice areas and transition fixes and make requests to participate when appropriate. To make a request to participate on the ground at DSM, advise clearance delivery of your desired practice area. To make a request while airborne, advise the Approach/Departure controller of your request to maneuver in a predefined practice area. Air Traffic Control will advise pilots of practice areas that are already in use and make recommendations for unused areas. VFR pilots are ultimately responsible to see and avoid all other traffic.

Practice areas are depicted below and are defined by coordinates. Each practice area is named. If an operational need arises, areas may be divided in half (EX: Saylorville east and Saylorville west), both pilots will be made aware of and concur with the plan.

When a pilot is ready to enter the pattern at DSM, pilots will proceed direct to the closest transition fix (Maffitt, Drake, Easter, and Norwalk) and advise DSM Approach of intentions, and the name of the fix to which they are headed. The pilot will arrive at the transition fix at or below 2,500’ MSL. The controller will issue vectors, altitudes, and/or pattern entry instructions as needed. If no pattern entry or inbound instructions are received, the pilot will hold at the transition fix, make right turns at standard rate, and await further instructions.

The transition routes and practice areas described are not to be interpreted as protected airspace, ATC will not restrict airspace use and cannot guarantee that practice areas are not being used by other aircraft. The description is for mutual understanding of the practice areas and fixes. This Letter to Airmen does not relieve any pilot from following all applicable CFRs. The defined areas are not free from obstructions, it is the pilot’s responsibility to maintain safety of flight.

Practice Area Coordinates

Saylorville	41°41’59”N/093°39’54”W 41°53’1”7N/093°39’54”W 41°53’17”N/094°06’56”W 41°41’59”N/094°06’56”W
West	41°38’14”N/094°0’005”W 41°38’14”N/094°26’03”W 41°27’18”N/094°26’03”W 41°27’18”N/094°00’05”W
Osceola	41°16’50”N/093°59’5”0W 41°00’04”N/093°59’50”W 41°00’04”N/093°41’32”W 41°16’50”N/093°41’32”W
Chariton	41°16’50”N/093°16’39”W 41°00’04”N/093°16’39”W 41°00’04”N/093°41’32”W 41°16’50”N/093°41’32”W

Transition Fix Visual Description Coordinates

Drake	Over the Drake Stadium	41°36’17”N 093°39’18”W
Easter	Over Easter Lake	41°32’38”N 093°33’21”W
Norwalk	Southeast edge of Norwalk	41°28’05”N 093°39’53”W
Maffitt	Over Maffitt Reservoir	41°30’53”N 093°47’51”W

Christopher Axtell
Air Traffic Manager, Des Moines Tower