Nonstop flight route between Saint Martin, Guadeloupe and Lajes, Azores, Portugal:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE), Saint Martin, Guadeloupe and Lajes Air Base (TER), Lajes, Azores, Portugal would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,584 miles (or 4,158 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 L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport and Lajes Air Base, 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 L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport and Lajes Air Base. 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 L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE):

• Since official opening of the new control-tower PJIA Air Traffic Controllers have two radar systems at their disposal with a range of 50 nautical miles and 250 NM.
• Incoming airplanes approach the island on short final for runway 12 over the bay of Grand-Case, which is a tremendous view, on final approach.
• Because of L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport's relatively low elevation of 20 feet, planes can take off or land at L'Espérance Airport Grand Case 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 L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) is Karratha Airport (KTA), which is nearly antipodal to L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (meaning L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Karratha Airport), and is located 12,256 miles (19,724 kilometers) away in Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia.
• In addition to being known as "L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport", other names for CCE include "Aérodrome de Grand-Case Espérance" and "SFG/CCE".
• The closest airport to L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) SW of CCE.
• L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) currently has only 1 runway.
• Larger aircraft such as the ATR 72-500 powerback after lining up on the runway for departure, due to the short runway.
• The regional Esperance Airport at Grand Case allows the quickest transfers for commercial inter-island flights and for private aircraft.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• The civilian terminal also plays an important role in support of passenger and cargo airliners, executive, corporate and private jets flying to the island or beyond as the central location in the Azores group of islands makes it an ideal spot for refuelling or stopover.
• In addition to being known as "Lajes Air Base", other names for TER include "Base Aérea das Lajes", "Base Aérea Nº 4" and "Aeroporto das Lajes".
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• The Portuguese Air Force continues to operate one SAR squadron Esq.
• Lajes Field was one of the two stopover and refueling bases for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships in 1944.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• The furthest airport from Lajes Air Base (TER) is Merimbula Airport (MIM), which is nearly antipodal to Lajes Air Base (meaning Lajes Air Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Merimbula Airport), and is located 12,229 miles (19,680 kilometers) away in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia.
• In August 2006, Portuguese news agencies reported that both governments were in discussions for a new agreement that could allow the use of Lajes for the training of a permanent F-22 Raptor squadron.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• Because of Lajes Air Base's relatively low elevation of 180 feet, planes can take off or land at Lajes Air Base 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.
• In 2009 Lajes provided rescue support of shipping lanes across the Atlantic, a safe haven for medical or mechanical emergency situations in aircraft crossing the Atlantic, and support for the USAF's continuing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.