Nonstop flight route between Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States and Santa Maria, Portugal:
Departure Airport:
(31°50'57"N by 106°22'47"W)
Arrival Airport:
(36°58'26"N by 25°10'15"W)
Distance from BIF to SMA:
4,497.72 miles (7,238.36 km)
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- About this route
- BIF Airport Information
- SMA Airport Information
- Facts about BIF
- Facts about SMA
- Map of Nearest Airports to BIF
- List of Nearest Airports to BIF
- Map of Furthest Airports from BIF
- List of Furthest Airports from BIF
- Map of Nearest Airports to SMA
- List of Nearest Airports to SMA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMA
- List of Furthest Airports from SMA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Biggs Army Airfield (BIF), Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States and Santa Maria Airport (SMA), Santa Maria, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,498 miles (or 7,238 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 Biggs Army Airfield 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 Biggs Army Airfield 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: | BIF / KBIF |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°50'57"N by 106°22'47"W |
| Operator/Owner: | U.S. Army ATCA-ASO |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 3946 feet (1,203 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BIF |
| More Information: | BIF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SMA / LPAZ |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santa Maria, Portugal |
| GPS Coordinates: | 36°58'26"N by 25°10'15"W |
| Area Served: | Vila do Porto |
| Operator/Owner: | Government of Portugal |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 308 feet (94 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMA |
| More Information: | SMA Maps & Info |
Facts about Biggs Army Airfield (BIF):
- After World War II, B-29 Superfortress personnel replacement training ended in October.
- While in Alaska, the 97th Bombardment Wing had been activated under the Hobson Plan, and the 97th Bomb Group became a subordinate organization under the wing.
- In 1920 Camp Owen Bierne opened on the site of the current airbase as a base for airship operations but the units were soon disbanded.
- In April 1943, the airfield came under the command of the Second Air Force and became headquarters for the XX Bomber Command.
- With the arrival of the 95th Bomb Wing in June 1952, the host unit at Biggs was changed to the SAC 810th Air Division, which operationally controlled both the 97th and 95th Bombardment Wings.
- The furthest airport from Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,387 miles (18,325 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) currently has only 1 runway.
- Prior to the takeover of Biggs by SAC in October 1948, it had previously moved the B-29 Superfortress-equipped 97th Bombardment Group to the base in May.
- The closest airport to Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) is El Paso International Airport (ELP), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) S of BIF.
- In addition to being known as "Biggs Army Airfield", another name for BIF is "Biggs Air Force BaseBiggs Field".
Facts about Santa Maria Airport (SMA):
- The airport at Santa Maria was part of a larger complex of buildings and infrastructures constructed in the 20th century.
- Santa Maria Airport is an airport located 5 km west northwest of the urbanized area of Vila do Porto on the Portuguese island of Santa Maria, in the autonomous region of the Azores.
- Santa Maria Airport handled 93,436 passengers last year.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Airport", another name for SMA is "Aeroporto de Santa Maria".
- The furthest airport from Santa Maria Airport (SMA) is Moruya Airport (MYA), which is nearly antipodal to Santa Maria Airport (meaning Santa Maria Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Moruya Airport), and is located 12,166 miles (19,579 kilometers) away in Moruya, New South Wales, Australia.
- Because of Santa Maria Airport's relatively low elevation of 308 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 closest airport to Santa Maria Airport (SMA) is João Paulo II Airport (PDL), which is located 60 miles (97 kilometers) NNW of SMA.
- A chartered Boeing 707-300, Independent Air Flight 1851 from Bergamo, Italy in 1989 crashed on approach to Santa Maria Airport, when it struck the Pico Alto mountain.
- Santa Maria Airport (SMA) currently has only 1 runway.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 2.92 miles (4.70 km) S | El Paso International Airport (ELP) | El Paso, Texas, United States |     |
| 2 | 14.99 miles (24.13 km) S | Abraham González International Airport (CJS) | Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 3 | 14.99 miles (24.13 km) S | Nuevo Casas Grandes Municipal Airport (NCG) | Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 4 | 43.94 miles (70.72 km) NW | Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | |
| 5 | 71.12 miles (114.46 km) NNE | Holloman Air Force Base Alamogordo Army Airfield (HMN) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 6 | 72.12 miles (116.06 km) NNE | Alamogordo–White Sands Regional Airport (ALM) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 7 | 73.52 miles (118.32 km) W | Columbus Municipal Airport (CUS) | Columbus, New Mexico, United States | |
| 8 | 83.52 miles (134.41 km) WNW | Deming Municipal AirportDeming Army Airfield (DMN) | Deming, New Mexico, United States | |
| 9 | 108.82 miles (175.13 km) ESE | Culberson County Airport (VHN) | Van Horn, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 109.03 miles (175.47 km) NNW | Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (TCS) | Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, United States | |
| 11 | 117.19 miles (188.60 km) WNW | Grant County Airport (SVC) | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | |
| 12 | 128.40 miles (206.64 km) ENE | Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM) | Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 13 | 131.38 miles (211.43 km) ENE | Artesia Municipal Airport (ATS) | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | |
| 14 | 147.17 miles (236.85 km) NE | Roswell International Air Center (ROW) | Roswell, New Mexico, United States | |
| 15 | 171.87 miles (276.59 km) E | Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ) | Pecos, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,386.81 miles (18,325.24 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 11,174.71 miles (17,983.90 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,100.93 miles (17,865.18 km) ESE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 11,087.51 miles (17,843.58 km) ESE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,754.87 miles (17,308.24 km) E | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,716.40 miles (17,246.34 km) ESE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,655.16 miles (17,147.78 km) ESE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,653.79 miles (17,145.57 km) ESE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,632.78 miles (17,111.76 km) ESE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,617.12 miles (17,086.55 km) E | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,579.17 miles (17,025.49 km) ESE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,563.85 miles (17,000.83 km) ESE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,526.48 miles (16,940.68 km) ESE | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,503.77 miles (16,904.14 km) ESE | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 15 | 10,500.21 miles (16,898.41 km) ESE | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 60.44 miles (97.26 km) NNW | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 2 | 161.94 miles (260.61 km) NW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 209.34 miles (336.90 km) WNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 213.54 miles (343.67 km) NW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 221.17 miles (355.94 km) WNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 366.19 miles (589.32 km) WNW | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 371.97 miles (598.63 km) WNW | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 560.01 miles (901.25 km) ESE | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 9 | 566.98 miles (912.46 km) ESE | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 719.25 miles (1,157.51 km) SE | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 11 | 771.87 miles (1,242.20 km) SE | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 12 | 778.68 miles (1,253.16 km) SE | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 793.97 miles (1,277.77 km) SE | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 14 | 844.99 miles (1,359.87 km) SE | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 15 | 869.00 miles (1,398.51 km) SE | Lanzarote Airport (ACE) | Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,166.03 miles (19,579.28 km) ESE | Moruya Airport (MYA) | Moruya, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,164.68 miles (19,577.11 km) E | Merimbula Airport (MIM) | Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,155.61 miles (19,562.50 km) SE | Illawarra Regional Airport (WOL) | Shellharbour, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,143.59 miles (19,543.17 km) SE | Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) | Mascot (near Sydney), Australia | |
| 5 | 12,135.02 miles (19,529.37 km) SE | Bankstown Airport (BWU) | Bankstown (near Sydney), New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,128.04 miles (19,518.13 km) SE | Camden Aerodrome (CDU) | Camden, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,113.81 miles (19,495.24 km) ESE | Goulburn Airport (GUL) | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,112.40 miles (19,492.97 km) SE | Belmont Airport (BEO) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,102.07 miles (19,476.35 km) ESE | Canberra Airport (CBR) | Canberra, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,101.93 miles (19,476.12 km) SSE | Newcastle Airport (NTL) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | 12,086.58 miles (19,451.41 km) SE | Cessnock Airport (CES) | Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 12,086.22 miles (19,450.83 km) SSE | Maitland Airport (MTL) | Maitland, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 13 | 12,054.69 miles (19,400.10 km) SE | Bathurst Airport (BHS) | Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 14 | 12,047.90 miles (19,389.17 km) E | Corryong Airport (CYG) | Corryong, Victoria, Australia | |
| 15 | 12,038.04 miles (19,373.30 km) SSE | Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ) | Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia | |