Nonstop flight route between Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Westfield / Springfield, Massachusetts, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF), Westfield / Springfield, Massachusetts, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,586 miles (or 13,818 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 Buka Island Airport and Westfield-Barnes Regional 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 Buka Island Airport and Westfield-Barnes Regional 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 Buka Island Airport (BUA):

• The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
• In January 1944, the Allies drove the Japanese out of Buka, and the airfield was used for operations against the Japanese over New Guinea.
• Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
• In 2004, the airport experienced some closures due to land disputes.
• Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island 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 Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
• Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.

Facts about Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF):

• July 13, 1914 can be the date where aviation in Westfield is traced back to.
• Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is a public/military airport in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.
• The closest airport to Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF) is Westover Air Reserve Base (CEF), which is located only 10 miles (15 kilometers) ENE of BAF.
• The former Flight Deck restaurant was replaced with The Runway Restaurant and Lounge when the new terminal opened.
• Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF) has 2 runways.
• In addition to being known as "Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport", another name for BAF is "(formerly Barnes Municipal Airport)".
• Over the last 50 years the airport has made improvements including another runway, 15/33 with a length of 5,000 feet, and a VORTAC and an ILS system.
• The airport covers 1,200 acres  at an elevation of 270 feet above mean sea level.
• The furthest airport from Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,728 miles (18,874 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Because of Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 270 feet, planes can take off or land at Westfield-Barnes Regional 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.