Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(50°16'48"S by 72°3'11"W)
Distance from MER to FTE:
6,736.90 miles (10,841.96 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- FTE Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about FTE
- 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 FTE
- List of Nearest Airports to FTE
- Map of Furthest Airports from FTE
- List of Furthest Airports from FTE
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE), El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,737 miles (or 10,842 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 Comandante Armando Tola 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 Comandante Armando Tola 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: | FTE / SAWA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina |
| GPS Coordinates: | 50°16'48"S by 72°3'11"W |
| Area Served: | El Calafate, Santa Cruz |
| Operator/Owner: | Government and London Supply |
| Airport Type: | Public / Military |
| Elevation: | 669 feet (204 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FTE |
| More Information: | FTE 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
Facts about Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE):
- In addition to being known as "Comandante Armando Tola International Airport", other names for FTE include "Aeropuerto Internacional de El Calafate – Comandante Armando Tola" and "SAWC".
- The furthest airport from Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) is Baikal International Airport (UUD), which is nearly antipodal to Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (meaning Comandante Armando Tola International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Baikal International Airport), and is located 12,329 miles (19,842 kilometers) away in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
- Because of Comandante Armando Tola International Airport's relatively low elevation of 669 feet, planes can take off or land at Comandante Armando Tola International 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.
- The closest airport to Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) is Lago Argentino Airport (ING), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) WSW of FTE.
- Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 11.49 miles (18.49 km) WSW | Lago Argentino Airport (ING) | El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina | |
| 2 | 98.27 miles (158.15 km) SSW | Teniente Julio Gallardo Airfield (PNT) | Puerto Natales, Chile | |
| 3 | 134.14 miles (215.87 km) NE | Gobernador Gregores Airport (GGS) | Gobernador Gregores, Santa Cruz, Argentina | |
| 4 | 150.51 miles (242.23 km) SE | Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport (RGL) | Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina | |
| 5 | 194.98 miles (313.79 km) SSE | Presidente Carlos Ibáñez International Airport (PUQ) | Punta Arenas, Chile | |
| 6 | 211.21 miles (339.91 km) N | Cochrane Airfield (LGR) | Cochrane, Chile | |
| 7 | 256.02 miles (412.03 km) N | Chile Chico Airfield (CCH) | Chile Chico, Aisén Region, Chile | |
| 8 | 263.21 miles (423.59 km) N | Perito Moreno Airport (PMQ) | Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz, Argentina | |
| 9 | 302.00 miles (486.02 km) N | Balmaceda Airport (BBA) | Balmaceda, Chile | |
| 10 | 303.05 miles (487.71 km) SE | Hermes Quijada International Airport (RGA) | Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina | |
| 11 | 323.75 miles (521.03 km) N | Teniente Vidal Airfield (GXQ) | Coyhaique, Chile | |
| 12 | 329.35 miles (530.04 km) ENE | Puerto Deseado Airport (PUD) | Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina | |
| 13 | 352.45 miles (567.22 km) SSE | Ushuaia International Airport (USH) | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina | |
| 14 | 368.44 miles (592.94 km) N | Alto Río Senguer Airport (ARR) | Alto Río Senguer, Chubut, Argentina | |
| 15 | 375.85 miles (604.87 km) NE | General Enrique Mosconi International Airport (CRD) | Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,328.98 miles (19,841.52 km) NNE | Baikal International Airport (UUD) | Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia | |
| 2 | 12,260.13 miles (19,730.72 km) NNE | Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN) | Ulan Bator, Mongolia | |
| 3 | 12,230.65 miles (19,683.28 km) NE | International Airport Irkutsk (IKT) | Irkutsk, Russia | |
| 4 | 12,213.92 miles (19,656.34 km) ENE | Bulgan Airport (UGA) | Bulgan, Mongolia | |
| 5 | 12,175.20 miles (19,594.03 km) WNW | Chita Kadala (HTA) | Chita, Russia | |
| 6 | 12,123.37 miles (19,510.62 km) NE | Kharkhorin Airport (KHR) | Kharkhorin, Mongolia | |
| 7 | 12,115.63 miles (19,498.17 km) NNE | Mandalgovi Airport (MXW) | Mandalgovi, Dundgovi, Mongolia | |
| 8 | 12,104.41 miles (19,480.11 km) NE | Khujirt Airport (HJT) | Khujirt, Övörkhangai, Mongolia | |
| 9 | 12,100.21 miles (19,473.35 km) WNW | Choibalsan Airport (COQ) | Choibalsan, Mongolia | |
| 10 | 12,085.63 miles (19,449.89 km) E | Mörön Airport (MXV) | Mörön, Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia | |
| 11 | 12,071.60 miles (19,427.31 km) NE | Arvaykheer Airport (AVK) | Arvaikheer, Mongolia | |
| 12 | 11,999.09 miles (19,310.61 km) NE | Bayankhongor Airport (BYN) | Bayankhongor, Mongolia | |
| 13 | 11,973.46 miles (19,269.37 km) N | Ust-Kut Airport (UKX) | Ust-Kut, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia | |
| 14 | 11,943.76 miles (19,221.57 km) NNE | Bratsk Airport (BTK) | Bratsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia | |
| 15 | 11,924.45 miles (19,190.49 km) NNW | Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (ERL) | Erenhot, Inner Mongolia, China | |