Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and North Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(21°55'3"N by 71°56'21"W)
Distance from MER to NCA:
3,071.27 miles (4,942.71 km)
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- NCA Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about NCA
- 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 NCA
- List of Nearest Airports to NCA
- Map of Furthest Airports from NCA
- List of Furthest Airports from NCA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and North Caicos Airport (NCA), North Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,071 miles (or 4,943 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 North Caicos 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 North Caicos 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: | NCA / MBNC |
| Airport Name: | North Caicos Airport |
| Location: | North Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 21°55'3"N by 71°56'21"W |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from NCA |
| More Information: | NCA Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- 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 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.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
Facts about North Caicos Airport (NCA):
- The closest airport to North Caicos Airport (NCA) is Middle Caicos Airport (MDS), which is located only 11 miles (17 kilometers) SE of NCA.
- Because of North Caicos Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at North Caicos 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 furthest airport from North Caicos Airport (NCA) is RAAF Learmonth (LEA), which is nearly antipodal to North Caicos Airport (meaning North Caicos Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from RAAF Learmonth), and is located 12,050 miles (19,393 kilometers) away in Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia.
- North Caicos Airport (NCA) 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 | 10.83 miles (17.42 km) SE | Middle Caicos Airport (MDS) | Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| 2 | 23.17 miles (37.29 km) WSW | Providenciales International Airport (PLS) | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| 3 | 38.28 miles (61.61 km) SE | South Caicos Airport (XSC) | South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| 4 | 60.73 miles (97.74 km) ESE | JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT) | Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos Islands | |
| 5 | 75.79 miles (121.97 km) WNW | Mayaguana Airport (MYG) | Abraham's Bay, Mayaguana, Bahamas | |
| 6 | 128.77 miles (207.24 km) WSW | Inagua Airport (IGA) | Matthew Town, Great Inagua Island, Bahamas | |
| 7 | 151.83 miles (244.34 km) S | Hugo Chávez International Airport (CAP) | Cap-Haïtien, Haiti | |
| 8 | 154.33 miles (248.37 km) WNW | Colonel Hill Airport (CRI) | Colonel Hill, Crooked Island, Bahamas | |
| 9 | 173.45 miles (279.14 km) SSE | Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) | San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic | |
| 10 | 193.79 miles (311.87 km) SSE | Cibao International Airport (STI) | Santiago, Dominican Republic | |
| 11 | 197.12 miles (317.24 km) WSW | Gustavo Rizo Airport (BCA) | Baracoa, Cuba | |
| 12 | 210.94 miles (339.47 km) WSW | Orestes Acosta Airport (MOA) | Moa, Cuba | |
| 13 | 219.33 miles (352.98 km) WNW | Deadman's Cay Airport (LGI) | Deadman's Cay, Long Island, Bahamas | |
| 14 | 221.36 miles (356.24 km) NW | San Salvador Airport (ZSA) | Cockburn Town, San Salvador Island, Bahamas | |
| 15 | 222.46 miles (358.01 km) SSE | Constanza Airport (COZ) | Constanza, Dominican Republic | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,050.24 miles (19,392.93 km) W | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,026.34 miles (19,354.47 km) WSW | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,993.21 miles (19,301.15 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,958.82 miles (19,245.81 km) W | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,879.92 miles (19,118.83 km) SW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,869.92 miles (19,102.74 km) W | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,815.35 miles (19,014.92 km) W | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,814.90 miles (19,014.19 km) W | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,812.85 miles (19,010.89 km) W | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,807.45 miles (19,002.19 km) W | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,806.14 miles (19,000.09 km) SW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,787.09 miles (18,969.43 km) SW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,747.83 miles (18,906.25 km) W | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,747.17 miles (18,905.19 km) W | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,730.47 miles (18,878.31 km) SW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |