Nonstop flight route between Decatur, Alabama, United States and St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W)
Arrival Airport:
(41°20'12"S by 148°16'54"E)
Distance from DCU to HLS:
9,445.34 miles (15,200.77 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DCU Airport Information
- HLS Airport Information
- Facts about DCU
- Facts about HLS
- 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 HLS
- List of Nearest Airports to HLS
- Map of Furthest Airports from HLS
- List of Furthest Airports from HLS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States and St Helens Airport (HLS), St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,445 miles (or 15,201 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 St Helens 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 St Helens 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: | HLS / YSTH |
| Airport Name: | St Helens Airport |
| Location: | St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°20'12"S by 148°16'54"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Break O'Day Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 158 feet (48 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HLS |
| More Information: | HLS Maps & Info |
Facts about Pryor Field Regional Airport (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.
- Situated next to Calhoun Community College, the airport serves the western portion of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area and most of the Decatur Metropolitan Area.
- Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) currently has only 1 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.
- 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.
Facts about St Helens Airport (HLS):
- The closest airport to St Helens Airport (HLS) is Launceston Airport (LST), which is located 57 miles (92 kilometers) WSW of HLS.
- St Helens Airport (HLS) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of St Helens Airport's relatively low elevation of 158 feet, planes can take off or land at St Helens 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 St Helens Airport (HLS) is Corvo Airport (CVU), which is nearly antipodal to St Helens Airport (meaning St Helens Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Corvo Airport), and is located 12,317 miles (19,823 kilometers) away in Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal.
| 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 | 57.09 miles (91.88 km) WSW | Launceston Airport (LST) | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 2 | 77.01 miles (123.93 km) WNW | George Town Aerodrome (GEE) | George Town, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 3 | 87.36 miles (140.59 km) N | Flinders Island Airport (FLS) | Flinders Island, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 4 | 96.86 miles (155.88 km) W | Devonport Airport (DPO) | Devonport, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 5 | 110.94 miles (178.53 km) SSW | Hobart International Airport (HBA) | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 6 | 134.69 miles (216.77 km) W | Burnie Airport (BWT) | Burnie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 7 | 170.12 miles (273.78 km) W | Smithton Airport (SIO) | Smithton, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 8 | 241.32 miles (388.37 km) N | Bairnsdale Aerodrome (BSJ) | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia | |
| 9 | 251.98 miles (405.52 km) WNW | King Island Airport (KNS) | Currie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 10 | 287.23 miles (462.24 km) NW | Moorabbin Harry Hawker Airport (MBW) | Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia | |
| 11 | 300.22 miles (483.16 km) NW | Geelong Airport (GEX) | Grovedale, Victoria, Australia | |
| 12 | 300.66 miles (483.86 km) N | Mount Hotham Airport (MHU) | Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | |
| 13 | 307.52 miles (494.90 km) NW | Essendon Airport (MEB) | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |
| 14 | 312.45 miles (502.84 km) NW | Melbourne Airport (MEL) | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |
| 15 | 315.73 miles (508.12 km) NW | Avalon Airport (AVV) | Avalon, Victoria, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,317.39 miles (19,822.86 km) NNW | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 2 | 12,303.39 miles (19,800.33 km) NNW | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 3 | 12,187.96 miles (19,614.57 km) NW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 4 | 12,185.49 miles (19,610.60 km) NW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 5 | 12,177.83 miles (19,598.28 km) NW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 6 | 12,134.30 miles (19,528.22 km) NW | Lajes Air Base (TER) | Lajes, Azores, Portugal | |
| 7 | 12,031.26 miles (19,362.39 km) NW | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | |
| 8 | 11,974.54 miles (19,271.10 km) NW | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 9 | 11,421.39 miles (18,380.90 km) WNW | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 11,418.70 miles (18,376.57 km) WNW | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 11 | 11,317.17 miles (18,213.17 km) ENE | St. John's International Airport (YYT) | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | |
| 12 | 11,258.38 miles (18,118.57 km) NW | La Palma Airport (SPC) | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 13 | 11,249.17 miles (18,103.75 km) W | Vigo Airport (VGO) | Vigo, Galicia, Spain | |
| 14 | 11,244.10 miles (18,095.58 km) W | Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) | Porto, Portugal | |
| 15 | 11,241.46 miles (18,091.33 km) WNW | Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) | Santiago de Compostela, Spain | |