Nonstop flight route between Waycross, Georgia, United States and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield (AYS), Waycross, Georgia, United States and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,046 miles (or 8,120 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 Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield and Eareckson Air Station, 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 Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield and Eareckson Air Station. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield (AYS):

• Because of Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield's relatively low elevation of 142 feet, planes can take off or land at Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield 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.
• Waycross Army Airfield was initially activated as a sub-base of Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.
• Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield (AYS) has 3 runways.
• The closest airport to Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield (AYS) is Moody Air Force Base (VAD), which is located 51 miles (82 kilometers) WSW of AYS.
• The furthest airport from Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield (AYS) is Kalbarri Airport (KAX), which is located 11,406 miles (18,357 kilometers) away in Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia.
• The initial construction was completed in December 1942.
• Waycross also had a contingent of German POWs, used predominately as mechanics.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• The Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
• Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station 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.
• On 6 April 1993, Shemya Air Force Base was renamed Eareckson Air Station.
• The furthest airport from Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• On 28 May 1943, a small detachment of Alaskan Scouts began reconnaissance of Shemya, a small, flat, uninhabited island 35 miles to the east of Attu.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• On 27 January 1992 the 5073rd Air Base Group located at Shemya AFB was re-designated as the Pacific Air Forces Eleventh Air Force 673d Air Base Group.
• The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
• In 1958, the Air Force resumed operations on Shemya in support of various Air Force and Army strategic intelligence collection activities.
• With the successful completion of the Aleutian Campaign in August 1943, Eleventh Air Force came within striking distance of the Japanese Kurile Islands, the northernmost being 750 miles to the south-southwest of Shemya.
• The limited resources assigned to the Eleventh Air Force meant only a limited number of missions could be carried out over the Kuriles.