Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Arequipa, Peru:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(16°20'27"S by 71°34'59"W)
Distance from MER to AQP:
4,888.74 miles (7,867.65 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- AQP Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about AQP
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to AQP
- List of Nearest Airports to AQP
- Map of Furthest Airports from AQP
- List of Furthest Airports from AQP
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP), Arequipa, Peru would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,889 miles (or 7,868 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 Castle Airport and Rodríguez Ballón International 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 Castle Airport and Rodríguez Ballón International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MER / KMER |
| Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
| Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MER |
| More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | AQP / SPQU |
| Airport Name: | Rodríguez Ballón International Airport |
| Location: | Arequipa, Peru |
| GPS Coordinates: | 16°20'27"S by 71°34'59"W |
| Operator/Owner: | CORPAC |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 8405 feet (2,562 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from AQP |
| More Information: | AQP Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle 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.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
Facts about Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP):
- Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Rodríguez Ballón International Airport's high elevation of 8,405 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at AQP. Combined with a high temperature, this could make AQP a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) is Đà Nẵng International Airport (DAD), which is nearly antipodal to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (meaning Rodríguez Ballón International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Đà Nẵng International Airport), and is located 12,412 miles (19,975 kilometers) away in Da Nang, Vietnam.
- The closest airport to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) is Ilo Airport (ILQ), which is located 95 miles (153 kilometers) S of AQP.
- On 18 March 1983, Douglas C-47E FAP-356 of the Fuerza Aérea del Perú was damaged beyond repair in an accident at Arequipa Airport.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 94.87 miles (152.68 km) S | Ilo Airport (ILQ) | Ilo, Moquegua Region, Peru | |
| 2 | 112.31 miles (180.75 km) ENE | Inca Manco Cápac International Airport (JUL) | Juliaca, Peru | |
| 3 | 161.15 miles (259.35 km) SSE | Chacalluta International Airport (ACM) | Arica, Amazonas, Colombia | |
| 4 | 161.15 miles (259.35 km) SSE | Chacalluta International Airport (ARI) | Arica, Chile | |
| 5 | 195.33 miles (314.35 km) N | Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) | Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru | |
| 6 | 216.61 miles (348.60 km) NNW | Andahuaylas Airport (ANS) | Andahuaylas, Peru | |
| 7 | 225.03 miles (362.16 km) E | El Alto International Airport (LPB) | La Paz, Bolivia | |
| 8 | 238.33 miles (383.56 km) ENE | Apolo Airport (APB) | Apolo, La Paz, Bolivia | |
| 9 | 247.16 miles (397.76 km) WNW | Maria Reiche Neuman Airport (NZC) | Nazca, Ica Region, Peru | |
| 10 | 281.30 miles (452.71 km) NW | Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendívil Duarte Airport (AYC) | Ayacucho, Peru | |
| 11 | 281.30 miles (452.71 km) NW | Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendívil Duarte Airport (AYP) | Ayacucho, Peru | |
| 12 | 301.87 miles (485.82 km) NNE | Padre Aldamiz International Airport (PEM) | Puerto Maldonado, Peru | |
| 13 | 302.53 miles (486.88 km) ENE | Rurrenabaque Airport (RBQ) | Rurrenabaque, Bolivia | |
| 14 | 304.00 miles (489.24 km) SSE | Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ) | Iquique, Chile | |
| 15 | 337.36 miles (542.92 km) ENE | Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport (SRJ) | San Borja, Bolivia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,411.70 miles (19,974.65 km) NE | Đà Nẵng International Airport (DAD) | Da Nang, Vietnam | |
| 2 | 12,389.27 miles (19,938.55 km) E | Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) | Huế, Thừa Thiên–Huế, Vietnam | |
| 3 | 12,369.41 miles (19,906.59 km) NNW | Chu Lai Airport (VCL) | Chu Lai, Quang Nam, Vietnam | |
| 4 | 12,286.19 miles (19,772.65 km) NNW | Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) | Sanya, Hainan, China | |
| 5 | 12,266.74 miles (19,741.36 km) NNW | Phu Cat Airport (UIH) | Qui Nhơn, Binh Dinh, Vietnam | |
| 6 | 12,232.73 miles (19,686.62 km) NNE | Ratanakiri Airport (RBE) | Ratanakiri, Cambodia | |
| 7 | 12,193.98 miles (19,624.26 km) E | Savannakhet Airport (ZVK) | Savannakhet, Laos | |
| 8 | 12,191.60 miles (19,620.43 km) NE | Vinh Airport (VII) | Vinh, Nghe An, Vietnam | |
| 9 | 12,189.28 miles (19,616.69 km) ENE | Ubon Ratchathani Airport ท่าอากาศยานอุบลราชธานี (UBP) | Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand | |
| 10 | 12,182.24 miles (19,605.37 km) N | Buon Ma Thuot Airport (BMV) | Buon Me Thuot, Vietnam | |
| 11 | 12,177.08 miles (19,597.05 km) ENE | Nakhon Phanom Airport (KOP) | Nakhon Phanom, Thailand | |
| 12 | 12,154.63 miles (19,560.93 km) NNW | Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) | Haikou, Hainan, China | |
| 13 | 12,131.95 miles (19,524.43 km) N | Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) | Cam Ranh, Khánh Hòa, Vietnam | |
| 14 | 12,123.73 miles (19,511.21 km) NE | Tho Xuan Airport (THD) | Thanh Hoa, Vietnam | |
| 15 | 12,119.61 miles (19,504.58 km) N | Lien Khuong Airport (DLI) | Da Lat, Lam Dong, Vietnam | |