Nonstop flight route between Columbia, California, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(38°1'50"N by 120°24'51"W)
Arrival Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Distance from COA to BUA:
6,173.61 miles (9,935.44 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- COA Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about COA
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to COA
- List of Nearest Airports to COA
- Map of Furthest Airports from COA
- List of Furthest Airports from COA
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Columbia Airport (COA), Columbia, California, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,174 miles (or 9,935 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 Columbia Airport and Buka Island 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 Columbia Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | COA / |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Columbia, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°1'50"N by 120°24'51"W |
| Operator/Owner: | County of Tuolumne |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2118 feet (646 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from COA |
| More Information: | COA Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
| Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
| Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
| Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
| More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Facts about Columbia Airport (COA):
- The furthest airport from Columbia Airport (COA) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,273 miles (18,143 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- The closest airport to Columbia Airport (COA) is Modesto City-County Airport (MOD), which is located 41 miles (65 kilometers) SW of COA.
- Columbia Airport (COA) has 2 runways.
- In addition to being known as "Columbia Airport", other names for COA include "none" and "O22".
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- 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.
- On 26 July, an Imperial Japanese Navy special detachment was sent to inspect Buka Airfield, but considered it unacceptable as a prospect for a speedily constructed major airfield.
- 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.
- In 2004, the airport experienced some closures due to land disputes.
- On 13 May 1943 Allied reconnaissance observed 36 fighters and 6 bombers at the airstrip.
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 40.63 miles (65.38 km) SW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) S | Castle Airport (MER) | Atwater, California, United States | |
| 3 | 45.86 miles (73.80 km) WSW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 4 | 51.32 miles (82.59 km) NNW | Placerville Airport (PVF) | Placerville, California, United States | |
| 5 | 51.82 miles (83.39 km) S | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States | |
| 6 | 57.38 miles (92.35 km) SW | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 7 | 60.00 miles (96.57 km) NW | Sacramento Mather Airport (MHR) | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| 8 | 63.82 miles (102.70 km) NNE | Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) | South Lake Tahoe, California, United States | |
| 9 | 67.33 miles (108.36 km) WNW | Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC) | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| 10 | 69.24 miles (111.42 km) NW | Sacramento Airport McClellan Airfield (MCC) | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| 11 | 71.36 miles (114.84 km) SSW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 12 | 73.34 miles (118.03 km) NNW | Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) | Auburn, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.87 miles (118.88 km) SSE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 14 | 76.01 miles (122.32 km) NNE | Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV) | Minden, Nevada, United States | |
| 15 | 78.57 miles (126.44 km) NW | Sacramento International Airport (SMF) | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,273.46 miles (18,142.82 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,256.00 miles (18,114.73 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,227.83 miles (18,069.40 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,215.40 miles (18,049.40 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,168.86 miles (17,974.50 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,154.10 miles (17,950.73 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,095.17 miles (17,855.90 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,070.98 miles (17,816.97 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,972.51 miles (17,658.50 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,971.35 miles (17,656.63 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,955.81 miles (17,631.62 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,929.08 miles (17,588.61 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,921.13 miles (17,575.82 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,904.61 miles (17,549.22 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,881.04 miles (17,511.29 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 70.73 miles (113.82 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 94.46 miles (152.01 km) SE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 148.20 miles (238.51 km) SE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 150.79 miles (242.66 km) SSE | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) WNW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 195.74 miles (315.01 km) NW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 198.38 miles (319.26 km) W | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 216.52 miles (348.46 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 218.28 miles (351.28 km) W | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 238.34 miles (383.57 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 239.73 miles (385.81 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 268.10 miles (431.47 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 288.56 miles (464.39 km) SSW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 293.54 miles (472.41 km) W | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.59 miles (18,958.98 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,768.57 miles (18,939.63 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,768.55 miles (18,939.59 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,749.15 miles (18,908.38 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,678.23 miles (18,794.25 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,678.02 miles (18,793.91 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,662.10 miles (18,768.29 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,648.17 miles (18,745.87 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,647.20 miles (18,744.31 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 11 | 11,639.22 miles (18,731.47 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 12 | 11,638.24 miles (18,729.88 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,631.66 miles (18,719.29 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,629.96 miles (18,716.56 km) NE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,622.66 miles (18,704.82 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |