Nonstop flight route between Big Spring, Texas, United States and Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield (BGS), Big Spring, Texas, United States and Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport (YHI), Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,733 miles (or 4,399 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 Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield and Ulukhaktok/Holman 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 Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield and Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport. 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 Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield (BGS):

• Activated on 26 June 1942, the mission of Big Spring AAF was to train aviation cadets in high altitude precision bombing as bombardiers.
• In 1956, the Air Defense Command 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was transferred to Webb from Stewart Air Force Base in New York to defend the southern United States border on air intercept missions as part of the Central Air Defense Force.
• Instruction of the first class began in April 1952.
• The closest airport to Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield (BGS) is Midland Airpark (MDD), which is located 36 miles (58 kilometers) WSW of BGS.
• The airfield was activated as Big Spring Air Force Base on 1 October 1951 by the United States Air Force Air Training Command and established the 3560th Pilot Training Wing.
• By 1960, the consolidated pilot training program meant the consolidation of preflight, primary, and basic instruction into one school.
• The furthest airport from Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield (BGS) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,166 miles (17,969 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
• At Webb AFB, the last two pilot training classes completed course work on 30 August 1977, and fixed wing qualification training ended on 1 September 1977.

Facts about Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport (YHI):

• The furthest airport from Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport (YHI) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 9,609 miles (15,464 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.
• By early 1979 the snow problem was so great that the runway was no longer a straight line.
• Gravel for the runway was obtained from the north bank of the Okpilik River and the area was left untouched.
• The runway is the standard gravel strip that is seen in most Canadian Arctic communities and is 4,300 by 100 ft with the centre 117 ft above sea leavel.
• Because of Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport's relatively low elevation of 117 feet, planes can take off or land at Ulukhaktok/Holman 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 Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport (YHI) is Paulatuk (Nora Aliqatchialuk Ruben) Airport (YPC), which is located 177 miles (284 kilometers) WSW of YHI.
• Due to the situation of the airport, the community and the surrounding hills there is a "wind line" about half way to the airport.
• Ulukhaktok/Holman Airport (YHI) currently has only 1 runway.