Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(11°35'28"S by 27°31'51"E)
Distance from MER to FBM:
9,778.12 miles (15,736.32 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- FBM Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about FBM
- 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 FBM
- List of Nearest Airports to FBM
- Map of Furthest Airports from FBM
- List of Furthest Airports from FBM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM), Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,778 miles (or 15,736 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 Lubumbashi 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 Lubumbashi 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: | FBM / FZQA |
| Airport Name: | Lubumbashi International Airport |
| Location: | Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 11°35'28"S by 27°31'51"E |
| Area Served: | Lubumbashi |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 4295 feet (1,309 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FBM |
| More Information: | FBM Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
Facts about Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM):
- Because of Lubumbashi International Airport's high elevation of 4,295 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at FBM. Combined with a high temperature, this could make FBM a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,850 miles (19,070 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) is Kasompe Airport (CGJ), which is located 72 miles (116 kilometers) SSE of FBM.
- Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) currently has only 1 runway.
- Lubumbashi International Airport was founded in colonial times as the Elisabethville 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 | 72.11 miles (116.05 km) SSE | Kasompe Airport (CGJ) | Chingola, Zambia | |
| 2 | 88.42 miles (142.30 km) WSW | Solwezi Airport (SLI) | Solwezi, Zambia | |
| 3 | 96.35 miles (155.06 km) ENE | Mansa Airport (MNS) | Mansa, Luapula Province, Zambia | |
| 4 | 99.62 miles (160.33 km) SSE | Southdowns Airport (KIW) | Kitwe, Zambia | |
| 5 | 123.62 miles (198.95 km) SE | Ndola Airport (NLA) | Ndola, Zambia | |
| 6 | 148.65 miles (239.22 km) WNW | Kolwezi Airport (KWZ) | Kolwezi, Lualaba District, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 7 | 256.00 miles (411.99 km) NW | Kamina Air Base (KMN) | Kamina, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 8 | 262.20 miles (421.98 km) ENE | Kasama Airport (KAA) | Kasama, Zambia | |
| 9 | 265.67 miles (427.55 km) SSE | Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) | Lusaka, Zambia | |
| 10 | 287.40 miles (462.52 km) SW | Kaoma Airport (KMZ) | Kaoma, Zambia | |
| 11 | 300.41 miles (483.46 km) NE | Kasaba Bay Airport (ZKB) | Kasaba Bay, Zambia | |
| 12 | 312.88 miles (503.53 km) W | Cazombo Airport (CAV) | Cazombo, Angola | |
| 13 | 318.78 miles (513.03 km) ESE | Mfuwe Airport (MFU) | Mfuwe, Eastern Province, Zambia | |
| 14 | 320.14 miles (515.21 km) NE | Mbala Airport (MMQ) | Mbala, Northern Province, Zambia | |
| 15 | 320.69 miles (516.10 km) SSW | Ngoma Airport (ZGM) | Ngoma, Zambia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,849.57 miles (19,069.98 km) NNE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,827.39 miles (19,034.29 km) NNE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,825.74 miles (19,031.63 km) NNE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,818.10 miles (19,019.34 km) NNE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,796.63 miles (18,984.79 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,758.84 miles (18,923.98 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,742.25 miles (18,897.26 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,735.53 miles (18,886.46 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,731.95 miles (18,880.70 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,708.61 miles (18,843.14 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,708.34 miles (18,842.70 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,693.63 miles (18,819.03 km) NNE | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 13 | 11,673.98 miles (18,787.41 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,673.98 miles (18,787.41 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,669.99 miles (18,780.99 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |