Nonstop flight route between Decatur, Alabama, United States and Lae, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W)
Arrival Airport:
(6°34'10"S by 146°43'33"E)
Distance from DCU to LAE:
8,519.94 miles (13,711.48 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- DCU Airport Information
- LAE Airport Information
- Facts about DCU
- Facts about LAE
- 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 LAE
- List of Nearest Airports to LAE
- Map of Furthest Airports from LAE
- List of Furthest Airports from LAE
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States and Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE), Lae, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,520 miles (or 13,711 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 Lae Nadzab 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 Lae Nadzab 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: | LAE / AYNZ |
| Airport Name: | Lae Nadzab Airport |
| Location: | Lae, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 6°34'10"S by 146°43'33"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Papua New Guinea Office of Civil Aviation |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 239 feet (73 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LAE |
| More Information: | LAE Maps & Info |
Facts about Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In January 2010, the pilot training site was designated a historic landmark and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
Facts about Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE):
- Nadzab is located on the Erap River, 5 kilometres North of the Markham River.
- The first parachute jump for the 503rd Parachute Regiment was during the Allied paratrooper assault on 5 September 1943.
- The closest airport to Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE) is Bulolo Airport (BUL), which is located 45 miles (72 kilometers) S of LAE.
- Two parallel runways were built, running roughly east to west.
- Because of Lae Nadzab Airport's relatively low elevation of 239 feet, planes can take off or land at Lae Nadzab 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 Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE) is Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN), which is located 11,714 miles (18,852 kilometers) away in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE) currently has only 1 runway.
- In about 1910 the Gabmatsung/Gabmazung Lutheran mission station was established at Nadzab.
| 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 | 44.97 miles (72.37 km) S | Bulolo Airport (BUL) | Bulolo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 58.68 miles (94.44 km) WNW | Aiyura Airport (AYU) | Aiyura, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 63.54 miles (102.26 km) NW | Gusap Airport (GAP) | Gusap, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 77.51 miles (124.73 km) E | Finschhafen Airport (FIN) | Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 78.46 miles (126.27 km) WSW | Andakombe Airport (ADC) | Andakombe, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 97.63 miles (157.12 km) WNW | Goroka Airport (GKA) | Goroka, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 114.22 miles (183.82 km) NW | Madang Airport (MAG) | Madang, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 116.43 miles (187.38 km) SW | Kerema Airport (KMA) | Kerema, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 126.34 miles (203.32 km) WNW | Chimbu Airport (CMU) | Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 129.27 miles (208.03 km) SW | Ihu Airport (IHU) | Ihu, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 139.10 miles (223.85 km) S | Fane Airport (FNE) | Fane, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 140.13 miles (225.51 km) ENE | Cape Gloucester Airport (CGC) | Cape Gloucester, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 145.33 miles (233.89 km) WSW | Baimuru Airport (VMU) | Baimuru, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 168.86 miles (271.75 km) NW | Aiome Airport (AIE) | Aiome, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 174.08 miles (280.15 km) SSE | Kokoda Airport (KKD) | Kokoda, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,714.18 miles (18,852.10 km) N | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,635.23 miles (18,725.04 km) NNE | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,608.79 miles (18,682.49 km) NW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,594.32 miles (18,659.20 km) NW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,576.38 miles (18,630.33 km) NNE | Gov. Dix-Sept Rosado Airport (MVF) | Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,563.96 miles (18,610.34 km) N | Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) | Natal, Brazil | |
| 7 | 11,560.62 miles (18,604.97 km) NE | Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho International Airport (PHB) | Parnaiba, Piaui, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,557.57 miles (18,600.06 km) NW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,536.25 miles (18,565.75 km) NW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,532.99 miles (18,560.49 km) NW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 11 | 11,517.64 miles (18,535.79 km) NW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 12 | 11,516.19 miles (18,533.47 km) NE | Barreirinhas Airport (BRB) | Barreirinhas, Maranhão, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,515.76 miles (18,532.78 km) NW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 14 | 11,482.14 miles (18,478.67 km) S | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,472.16 miles (18,462.61 km) NW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |