Nonstop flight route between Decatur, Alabama, United States and Golmud, Qinghai, China:
Departure Airport:
(34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W)
Arrival Airport:
(36°24'2"N by 94°47'9"E)
Distance from DCU to GOQ:
7,526.12 miles (12,112.09 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- DCU Airport Information
- GOQ Airport Information
- Facts about DCU
- Facts about GOQ
- Map of Nearest Airports to DCU
- List of Nearest Airports to DCU
- Map of Furthest Airports from DCU
- List of Furthest Airports from DCU
- Map of Nearest Airports to GOQ
- List of Nearest Airports to GOQ
- Map of Furthest Airports from GOQ
- List of Furthest Airports from GOQ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States and Golmud Airport (GOQ), Golmud, Qinghai, China would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,526 miles (or 12,112 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 Pryor Field Regional Airport and Golmud 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 Pryor Field Regional Airport and Golmud Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DCU / KDCU |
| Airport Name: | Pryor Field Regional Airport |
| Location: | Decatur, Alabama, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W |
| Area Served: | Decatur, Alabama |
| Operator/Owner: | Decatur/Athens Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 592 feet (180 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DCU |
| More Information: | DCU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GOQ / ZLGM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Golmud, Qinghai, China |
| GPS Coordinates: | 36°24'2"N by 94°47'9"E |
| Area Served: | Golmud |
| Elevation: | 9333 feet (2,845 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GOQ |
| More Information: | GOQ Maps & Info |
Facts about Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU):
- Opened in October 1941 with 4,600 by 4,600 feet square all-direction turf runway.
- The closest airport to Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) is Huntsville International Airport (HSV), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) E of DCU.
- Because of Pryor Field Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 592 feet, planes can take off or land at Pryor Field 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.
- Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer.
- The furthest airport from Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,180 miles (17,992 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Golmud Airport (GOQ):
- The furthest airport from Golmud Airport (GOQ) is Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP), which is located 11,763 miles (18,930 kilometers) away in Concepción, Bío Bío Region, Chile.
- The closest airport to Golmud Airport (GOQ) is Dunhuang Airport (DNH), which is located 260 miles (418 kilometers) N of GOQ.
- Because of Golmud Airport's high elevation of 9,333 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at GOQ. Combined with a high temperature, this could make GOQ a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Golmud Airport (GOQ) currently has only 1 runway.
- In addition to being known as "Golmud Airport", other names for GOQ include "格尔木机场" and "Gé'ěrmù Jīchǎng".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9.75 miles (15.69 km) E | Huntsville International Airport (HSV) | Huntsville / Decatur, Alabama, United States |     |
| 2 | 14.90 miles (23.98 km) E | Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) | Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States | |
| 3 | 35.39 miles (56.96 km) NE | Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FYM) | Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 4 | 38.30 miles (61.63 km) W | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) | Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States | |
| 5 | 63.59 miles (102.34 km) NNW | Maury County Airport (MRC) | Columbia/Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, United States | |
| 6 | 63.86 miles (102.77 km) NE | Tullahoma Regional Airport (THA) | Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States | |
| 7 | 67.85 miles (109.19 km) SE | Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (GAD) | Gadsden, Alabama, United States | |
| 8 | 68.70 miles (110.56 km) NNE | Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI) | Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 9 | 70.49 miles (113.44 km) ENE | Franklin County Airport (UOS) | Sewanee, Tennessee, United States | |
| 10 | 70.57 miles (113.57 km) WSW | Marion County - Rankin Fite Airport (HAB) | Hamilton, Alabama, United States | |
| 11 | 76.14 miles (122.53 km) S | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
| 12 | 82.06 miles (132.06 km) ENE | Marion County Airport (APT) | Jasper, Tennessee, United States | |
| 13 | 85.51 miles (137.62 km) SSE | St. Clair County Airport (PLR) | Pell City, Alabama, United States | |
| 14 | 86.47 miles (139.16 km) NNW | Centerville Municipal Airport (GHM) | Centerville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 15 | 90.74 miles (146.03 km) SE | Talladega Municipal Airport (ASN) | Talladega, Alabama, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,179.89 miles (17,992.25 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,160.27 miles (17,960.66 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,140.94 miles (17,929.56 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,128.73 miles (17,909.90 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,124.24 miles (17,902.69 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,122.62 miles (17,900.07 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,110.85 miles (17,881.13 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,104.61 miles (17,871.09 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,103.33 miles (17,869.03 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,097.40 miles (17,859.49 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,074.48 miles (17,822.60 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,050.67 miles (17,784.29 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,041.81 miles (17,770.02 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,035.79 miles (17,760.33 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,032.55 miles (17,755.12 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 259.83 miles (418.15 km) N | Dunhuang Airport (DNH) | Dunhuang, Gansu, China | |
| 2 | 277.39 miles (446.42 km) SSE | Yushu Batang Airport (YUS) | Yushu County, Qinghai, China | |
| 3 | 307.13 miles (494.28 km) NE | Jiayuguan Airport (JGN) | Jiayuguan, Gansu, China | |
| 4 | 362.45 miles (583.31 km) ENE | Zhangye Ganzhou Airport (YZY) | Zhangye, Gansu, China | |
| 5 | 403.23 miles (648.94 km) E | Xining Caojiabao Airport (XNN) | Xining, Qinghai, China | |
| 6 | 421.64 miles (678.57 km) ENE | Alxa Right Banner Badanjilin Airport (RHT) | Alxa Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, China | |
| 7 | 425.54 miles (684.84 km) SSE | Qamdo Bamda Airport (BPX) | Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China | |
| 8 | 440.09 miles (708.26 km) ENE | Jinchang Jinchuan Airport (JIC) | Jinchang, Gansu, China | |
| 9 | 449.03 miles (722.64 km) N | Hami Airport (HMI) | Hami City, Xinjiang, China | |
| 10 | 454.78 miles (731.90 km) ESE | Gannan Xiahe Airport (GXH) | Xiahe, Gansu, China | |
| 11 | 490.80 miles (789.87 km) E | Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (LHW) | Lanzhou, Gansu, China | |
| 12 | 490.80 miles (789.87 km) E | Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (ZGC) | Lanzhou, Gansu, China | |
| 13 | 491.07 miles (790.30 km) S | Nyingchi Mainling Airport (LZY) | Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region, China | |
| 14 | 510.78 miles (822.01 km) NE | Ejin Banner Taolai Airport (EJN) | Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia, China | |
| 15 | 522.65 miles (841.12 km) WNW | Qiemo Airport (IQM) | Qiemo, Xinjiang, China | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,762.64 miles (18,930.09 km) W | Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP) | Concepción, Bío Bío Region, Chile | |
| 2 | 11,740.26 miles (18,894.08 km) WSW | Pichoy Airport (ZAL) | Valdivia, Chile | |
| 3 | 11,729.67 miles (18,877.02 km) WSW | Maquehue Airport (ZCO) | Temuco, Araucanía, Chile | |
| 4 | 11,719.13 miles (18,860.07 km) WSW | Victoria Airport (ZIC) | Victoria, Araucanía, Chile | |
| 5 | 11,718.99 miles (18,859.84 km) WSW | Cañal Bajo Carlos Hott Siebert Airport (ZOS) | Osorno, Chile | |
| 6 | 11,717.47 miles (18,857.40 km) SW | Pupelde Airfield (ZUD) | Ancud, Los Lagos Region, Chile | |
| 7 | 11,706.14 miles (18,839.16 km) WSW | Frutillar Airport (FRT) | Frutillar, Chile | |
| 8 | 11,705.01 miles (18,837.35 km) W | General Bernardo O'Higgins Airport (YAI) | Chillán, Ñuble, Chile | |
| 9 | 11,699.18 miles (18,827.95 km) SW | Mocopulli Airport (MHC) | Castro, Los Lagos, Chile | |
| 10 | 11,699.08 miles (18,827.80 km) WSW | El Tepual International Airport (PMC) | Puerto Montt, Chile | |
| 11 | 11,696.61 miles (18,823.83 km) SW | Gamboa Airport (WCA) | Castro, Chile | |
| 12 | 11,685.32 miles (18,805.66 km) WSW | Pucón Airport (ZPC) | Pucón, Chile | |
| 13 | 11,661.11 miles (18,766.68 km) W | La Unión Airport (LUI) | La Unión, Honduras[disambiguation needed] | |
| 14 | 11,648.68 miles (18,746.69 km) WSW | Caviahue Airport (CVH) | Caviahue, Neuquén, Argentina | |
| 15 | 11,633.98 miles (18,723.03 km) SW | Chaitén Airfield (WCH) | Chaitén, Los Lagos, Chile | |