Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°42'38"S by 53°41'31"W)
Distance from MER to RIA:
6,336.60 miles (10,197.74 km)
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- RIA Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about RIA
- 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 RIA
- List of Nearest Airports to RIA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RIA
- List of Furthest Airports from RIA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Santa Maria Airport (RIA), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,337 miles (or 10,198 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 Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria 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: | RIA / SBSM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°42'38"S by 53°41'31"W |
| Area Served: | Santa Maria |
| Operator/Owner: | Brazilian Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military |
| Elevation: | 289 feet (88 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RIA |
| More Information: | RIA 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Santa Maria Airport (RIA):
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Airport", another name for RIA is "Aeroporto de Santa Maria".
- Santa Maria Airport (RIA) has 2 runways.
- Because of Santa Maria Airport's relatively low elevation of 289 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria 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 airport is located 11 km east of downtown Santa Maria.
- Some of its facilities are shared with the Santa Maria Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
- The furthest airport from Santa Maria Airport (RIA) is Aguni Airport (AGJ), which is nearly antipodal to Santa Maria Airport (meaning Santa Maria Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Aguni Airport), and is located 12,214 miles (19,656 kilometers) away in Aguni, Japan.
- The closest airport to Santa Maria Airport (RIA) is João Batista Bos Filho Airport (IJU), which is located 93 miles (150 kilometers) N of RIA.
| 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 | 93.10 miles (149.84 km) N | João Batista Bos Filho Airport (IJU) | Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 2 | 102.82 miles (165.48 km) NNW | Sepé Tiaraju Airport (GEL) | Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 3 | 118.70 miles (191.04 km) SSW | Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport (BGX) | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 4 | 130.56 miles (210.12 km) NE | Lauro Kurtz Airport (PFB) | Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 5 | 132.14 miles (212.66 km) W | Gaudêncio Machado Ramos Airport (ALQ) | Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 6 | 137.61 miles (221.46 km) SW | Pres. Gral. Óscar D. Gestido International Airport (RVY) | Rivera, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 7 | 149.90 miles (241.24 km) SSW | Cerro Largo International Airport (VCH) | Vichadero, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 8 | 152.34 miles (245.16 km) E | Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 9 | 160.41 miles (258.16 km) SSE | Pelotas International Airport (PET) | Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 10 | 165.66 miles (266.61 km) NNE | Erechim Airport (ERM) | Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 11 | 174.99 miles (281.62 km) WSW | Artigas International Airport (ATI) | Artigas, Artigas, Uruguay | |
| 12 | 184.51 miles (296.94 km) S | Cerro Largo International Airport (MLZ) | Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay | |
| 13 | 187.21 miles (301.28 km) SSE | Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG) | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| 14 | 188.73 miles (303.73 km) NNE | Serafin Enoss Bertaso Airport (XAP) | Chapecó, Brazil | |
| 15 | 193.46 miles (311.35 km) SW | Tacuarembó Airport (TAW) | Tacuarembó, Tacuarembó, Uruguay | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,214.00 miles (19,656.48 km) NNW | Aguni Airport (AGJ) | Aguni, Japan | |
| 2 | 12,212.99 miles (19,654.86 km) WNW | Amami Airport (ASJ) | Amami Island, Japan | |
| 3 | 12,211.55 miles (19,652.53 km) NNW | Iejima Airport (IEJ) | Iejima, Japan | |
| 4 | 12,199.80 miles (19,633.62 km) E | Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport (HSN) | Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China | |
| 5 | 12,197.94 miles (19,630.63 km) WNW | Kikai Airport (KKX) | Kikaiga Shima, Kikai-Shima Island, Japan | |
| 6 | 12,188.18 miles (19,614.93 km) NNW | Kadena Air Base 嘉手納飛行場 Kadena Hikōjō (DNA) | Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| 7 | 12,184.76 miles (19,609.41 km) NNW | Kerama Airport (KJP) | Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan | |
| 8 | 12,183.89 miles (19,608.02 km) NW | Fukue Airport (FUJ) | Gotō, Nagasaki, Japan | |
| 9 | 12,181.00 miles (19,603.37 km) N | Jeongseok / Jungseok Airport (JDG) | Jeju province, South Korea | |
| 10 | 12,180.58 miles (19,602.70 km) NNW | Naha Airport (OKA) | Okinawa, Japan | |
| 11 | 12,173.98 miles (19,592.07 km) N | Jeju International Airport (CJU) | Jeju, South Korea | |
| 12 | 12,172.43 miles (19,589.58 km) W | Yakushima Airport (KUM) | Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan | |
| 13 | 12,150.90 miles (19,554.94 km) ENE | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) | Shanghai, People's Republic of China | |
| 14 | 12,146.08 miles (19,547.17 km) E | Ningbo Lishe International Airport (NGB) | Ningbo, Zhejiang, China | |
| 15 | 12,137.78 miles (19,533.81 km) WNW | Kagoshima Airport (KOJ) | Kagoshima, Japan | |