Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Sugawa, Fukushima, Japan:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°13'38"N by 140°25'41"E)
Distance from MER to FKS:
5,143.22 miles (8,277.19 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- FKS Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about FKS
- 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 FKS
- List of Nearest Airports to FKS
- Map of Furthest Airports from FKS
- List of Furthest Airports from FKS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Fukushima Airport (FKS), Sugawa, Fukushima, Japan would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,143 miles (or 8,277 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 Fukushima 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 Fukushima 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: | FKS / RJSF |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Sugawa, Fukushima, Japan |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°13'38"N by 140°25'41"E |
| Area Served: | Sukagawa, Fukushima, Japan |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Civil |
| Elevation: | 1220 feet (372 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FKS |
| More Information: | FKS Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- 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.
- 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.
- With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.
- 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.
Facts about Fukushima Airport (FKS):
- The last episode of the TV drama Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World was filmed at Fukushima Airport in 2004.
- Fukushima Airport (FKS) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Fukushima Airport (FKS) is Utsunomiya Air Field (QUT), which is located 58 miles (94 kilometers) SSW of FKS.
- The furthest airport from Fukushima Airport (FKS) is Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG), which is located 11,639 miles (18,731 kilometers) away in Rio Grande, Brazil.
- In addition to being known as "Fukushima Airport", other names for FKS include "福島空港" and "Fukushima Kūkō".
| 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 | 58.10 miles (93.51 km) SSW | Utsunomiya Air Field (QUT) | Nikkō / Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan | |
| 2 | 68.46 miles (110.18 km) NNE | Sendai Airport (SDJ) | Natori, Japan | |
| 3 | 81.90 miles (131.80 km) N | Yamagata Airport (GAJ) | Yamagata, Honshū, Japan | |
| 4 | 87.90 miles (141.46 km) NW | Niigata Airport (KIJ) | Niigata, Japan | |
| 5 | 101.06 miles (162.64 km) S | Narita International Airport (NRT) | Narita (near Tokyo), Japan | |
| 6 | 114.91 miles (184.94 km) NNW | Shonai Airport (SYO) | Yamagata, Japan | |
| 7 | 121.14 miles (194.96 km) SSW | Tokyo International Airport (HND) | Tokyo, Honshū, Japan | |
| 8 | 156.84 miles (252.40 km) NNE | Hanamaki Airport (HNA) | Morioka, Honshū, Japan | |
| 9 | 156.95 miles (252.58 km) WSW | Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) | Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan | |
| 10 | 165.39 miles (266.17 km) N | Akita Airport (AXT) | Akita, Japan | |
| 11 | 183.37 miles (295.11 km) WSW | Toyama Airport (TOY) | Toyama, Toyama, Japan | |
| 12 | 204.85 miles (329.67 km) N | Odate-Noshiro Airport (ONJ) | Kitaakita, Akita, Japan | |
| 13 | 209.45 miles (337.07 km) SW | Shizuoka Airport (FSZ) | Shizuoka, Honshu, Japan | |
| 14 | 223.29 miles (359.35 km) SSW | Miyakejima Airport (MYE) | Miyakejima, Japan | |
| 15 | 229.72 miles (369.70 km) WSW | Komatsu Airport (KMQ) | Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,638.65 miles (18,730.54 km) ESE | Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG) | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,618.57 miles (18,698.24 km) SE | Diomício Freitas/Forquilhinha Airport (CCM) | Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,617.33 miles (18,696.24 km) ESE | Pelotas International Airport (PET) | Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 4 | 11,604.08 miles (18,674.90 km) ESE | Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 5 | 11,594.98 miles (18,660.27 km) SE | Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) | Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,558.55 miles (18,601.63 km) ESE | Treinta y Tres Airport (TYT) | Treinta y Tres, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay | |
| 7 | 11,555.30 miles (18,596.41 km) E | Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport (PDP) | Maldonado/Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay | |
| 8 | 11,546.80 miles (18,582.72 km) SE | Navegantes Airport (NVT) | Navegantes, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 9 | 11,540.83 miles (18,573.12 km) ESE | Cerro Largo International Airport (MLZ) | Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay | |
| 10 | 11,535.11 miles (18,563.91 km) SE | Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo Airport (LAJ) | Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,515.70 miles (18,532.68 km) ESE | Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport (BGX) | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 12 | 11,504.09 miles (18,513.99 km) SE | Joinville-Lauro Carneiro de Loyola Airport (JOI) | Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,503.72 miles (18,513.40 km) E | Carrasco/General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport (MVD) | Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| 14 | 11,502.74 miles (18,511.82 km) ESE | Cerro Largo International Airport (VCH) | Vichadero, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 15 | 11,477.81 miles (18,471.70 km) E | Villa Gesell Airport (VLG) | Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |