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):

• 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.
• In 1994, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and France signed the Franco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls, which allows for joint Franco-Dutch border controls on so-called "risk flights".
• Larger aircraft such as the ATR 72-500 powerback after lining up on the runway for departure, due to the short runway.
• L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) currently has only 1 runway.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 regional Esperance Airport at Grand Case allows the quickest transfers for commercial inter-island flights and for private aircraft.
• 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.

Facts about Lajes Air Base (TER):

• 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.
• The closest airport to Lajes Air Base (TER) is Graciosa Airport (GRW), which is located 55 miles (89 kilometers) WNW of TER.
• 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".
• During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters.
• The resident Portuguese 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" was deactivated on 30 November 2006.
• Civilian operators may use Terceira Airport/Lajes Air Base after requesting a landing permit according to the rules inscribed in the AIP for Portugal, issued by the Portuguese Directorate of Civilian Aviation.
• 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.
• Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics.
• In 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19.
• Lajes Air Base (TER) currently has only 1 runway.
• In the summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S.