Nonstop flight route between Galena, Alaska, United States and Rabaul, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W)
Arrival Airport:
(4°20'25"S by 152°22'45"E)
Distance from GAL to RAB:
5,416.42 miles (8,716.86 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- GAL Airport Information
- RAB Airport Information
- Facts about GAL
- Facts about RAB
- Map of Nearest Airports to GAL
- List of Nearest Airports to GAL
- Map of Furthest Airports from GAL
- List of Furthest Airports from GAL
- Map of Nearest Airports to RAB
- List of Nearest Airports to RAB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RAB
- List of Furthest Airports from RAB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL), Galena, Alaska, United States and Rabaul Airport (RAB), Rabaul, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,416 miles (or 8,717 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport and Rabaul Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport and Rabaul Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GAL / PAGA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Galena, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W |
| Area Served: | Galena, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 153 feet (47 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GAL |
| More Information: | GAL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RAB / AYTK |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 4°20'25"S by 152°22'45"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 32 feet (10 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RAB |
| More Information: | RAB Maps & Info |
Facts about Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL):
- In addition to being known as "Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport", another name for GAL is "(former Galena Air Force Base)".
- The furthest airport from Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 10,313 miles (16,598 kilometers) away in George, South Africa.
- Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is Koyukuk Airport (KYU), which is located 25 miles (41 kilometers) WNW of GAL.
- As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 7,784 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 7,447 enplanements in 2009, and 12,421 in 2010.
- Because of Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport's relatively low elevation of 153 feet, planes can take off or land at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- As Galena Air Force Base, it was used by the USAF during the Cold War as an interceptor base for aircraft patrolling the western areas of Alaska.
Facts about Rabaul Airport (RAB):
- In addition to being known as "Rabaul Airport", another name for RAB is "Tokua Airport".
- Because of Rabaul Airport's relatively low elevation of 32 feet, planes can take off or land at Rabaul Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Rabaul Airport (RAB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The airport resides at an elevation of 32 feet above mean sea level.
- The furthest airport from Rabaul Airport (RAB) is Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN), which is located 11,780 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- A volcano eruption closed the airport for a day in 2006.
- The closest airport to Rabaul Airport (RAB) is Namatanai Airport (ATN), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) N of RAB.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 25.24 miles (40.63 km) WNW | Koyukuk Airport (KYU) | Koyukuk, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 33.53 miles (53.95 km) W | Nulato Airport (NUL) | Nulato, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 43.28 miles (69.66 km) E | Ruby Airport (RBY) | Ruby, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 60.86 miles (97.94 km) WSW | Kaltag Airport (KAL) | Kaltag, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 68.58 miles (110.37 km) NNE | Huslia Airport (HSL) | Huslia, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 83.93 miles (135.07 km) SSE | Bear Creek 3 Airport (BCC) | Bear Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 118.39 miles (190.53 km) NE | Hughes Airport (HUS) | Hughes, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 123.53 miles (198.81 km) SSE | Takotna Airport (TCT) | Takotna, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 124.64 miles (200.60 km) W | Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport (KKA) | Koyuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 127.30 miles (204.87 km) NE | Indian Mountain LRRS Airport (UTO) | Utopia Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 127.43 miles (205.08 km) WNW | Haycock Airport (HAY) | Haycock, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 129.61 miles (208.58 km) WSW | Unalakleet Airport (UNK) | Unalakleet, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 129.70 miles (208.73 km) W | Shaktoolik Airport (SKK) | Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 129.70 miles (208.73 km) SSE | McGrath Airport (MCG) | McGrath, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 130.57 miles (210.14 km) SSE | Tatalina LRRS Airport (TLJ) | Takotna, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,313.41 miles (16,597.78 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,309.38 miles (16,591.29 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,302.73 miles (16,580.59 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,276.31 miles (16,538.08 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,237.19 miles (16,475.12 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,131.03 miles (16,304.27 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,076.40 miles (16,216.36 km) SE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 8 | 10,075.25 miles (16,214.50 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,017.04 miles (16,120.83 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,016.20 miles (16,119.47 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,015.87 miles (16,118.95 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,008.98 miles (16,107.85 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,001.06 miles (16,095.11 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,991.80 miles (16,080.21 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,991.52 miles (16,079.76 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 46.72 miles (75.18 km) N | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 91.30 miles (146.93 km) N | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 94.86 miles (152.67 km) SSW | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 108.75 miles (175.02 km) SSW | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 127.72 miles (205.55 km) E | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 156.47 miles (251.82 km) WSW | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 162.96 miles (262.25 km) NW | Kavieng Airport (KVG) | Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) ESE | Buka Island Airport (BUA) | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 194.14 miles (312.43 km) SW | Gasmata Airport (GMI) | Gasmata Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 234.04 miles (376.64 km) WSW | Kandrian Airport (KDR) | Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 249.57 miles (401.64 km) NW | Emirau Airport (EMI) | Emirau, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 267.04 miles (429.76 km) ESE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 282.49 miles (454.62 km) WSW | Cape Gloucester Airport (CGC) | Cape Gloucester, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 301.27 miles (484.84 km) SSW | Losuia Airport (Kiriwina Airfield) (LSA) | Losuia, Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 302.94 miles (487.54 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.47 miles (18,958.79 km) NNE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,677.69 miles (18,793.37 km) NNW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,664.26 miles (18,771.76 km) NNW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,653.51 miles (18,754.46 km) NNW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,631.72 miles (18,719.39 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,560.86 miles (18,605.35 km) NNW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,560.74 miles (18,605.16 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,556.32 miles (18,598.04 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,554.50 miles (18,595.12 km) SE | Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) | Natal, Brazil | |
| 10 | 11,531.71 miles (18,558.44 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 11 | 11,523.24 miles (18,544.81 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 12 | 11,508.13 miles (18,520.50 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 13 | 11,498.37 miles (18,504.79 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 14 | 11,497.70 miles (18,503.72 km) NE | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,495.96 miles (18,500.92 km) SSE | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |