Nonstop flight route between Decatur, Alabama, United States and Palmdale, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W)
Arrival Airport:
(34°37'45"N by 118°5'3"W)
Distance from DCU to PMD:
1,762.92 miles (2,837.14 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DCU Airport Information
- PMD Airport Information
- Facts about DCU
- Facts about PMD
- 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 PMD
- List of Nearest Airports to PMD
- Map of Furthest Airports from PMD
- List of Furthest Airports from PMD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States and Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD), Palmdale, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,763 miles (or 2,837 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 relatively short distance between Pryor Field Regional Airport and Palmdale Regional Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | PMD / KPMD |
| Airport Name: | Palmdale Regional Airport |
| Location: | Palmdale, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°37'45"N by 118°5'3"W |
| Area Served: | Palmdale, California |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military (Joint Use) |
| Elevation: | 2543 feet (775 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PMD |
| More Information: | PMD 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.
- In 2007, Chris Wright was struck by a propeller as he was "hand propping" starting his plane.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD):
- Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) has 3 runways.
- The closest airport to Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF), which is located only 11 miles (17 kilometers) NW of PMD.
- The origins of Palmdale Regional Airport go to the early 1930s, when a small airstrip was built in the desert.
- Both the Air Force and its aircraft contractors needed a location away from major population centers - due to sonic booms, other noises and security concerns - but close enough to the major centers of aircraft design and production, while having excellent flying weather the year around.
- After several airlines were unable to sustain operations at Palmdale, the terminal was remodeled and reopened in May 2007.
- The furthest airport from Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,436 miles (18,405 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
| 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 | 10.85 miles (17.46 km) NW | General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF) | Lancaster, California, United States | |
| 2 | 22.22 miles (35.77 km) NNE | Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) | Edwards, California, United States | |
| 3 | 29.95 miles (48.21 km) N | Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) | Mojave, California, United States | |
| 4 | 31.71 miles (51.03 km) SW | Whiteman Airport (WHP) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 5 | 33.50 miles (53.91 km) SSW | Bob Hope Airport (BUR) | Burbank, California, United States | |
| 6 | 37.09 miles (59.68 km) SW | Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Van Nuys, California, United States | |
| 7 | 37.65 miles (60.59 km) S | San Gabriel Valley (El Monte) Airport (EMT) | El Monte, California, United States | |
| 8 | 39.94 miles (64.28 km) E | Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) | Victorville, California, United States | |
| 9 | 40.30 miles (64.86 km) NNW | Tehachapi Municipal Airport (TSP) | Tehachapi, California, United States | |
| 10 | 40.97 miles (65.94 km) SSE | Brackett Field (POC) | La Verne, California, United States | |
| 11 | 42.34 miles (68.13 km) SSE | Cable Airport (CCB) | Upland, California, United States | |
| 12 | 47.29 miles (76.10 km) SSW | Santa Monica Airport (SMO) | Santa Monica, California, United States | |
| 13 | 48.26 miles (77.67 km) SE | LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Ontario (near Los Angeles), California, United States | |
| 14 | 50.88 miles (81.89 km) SSW | Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) | Hawthorne, California, United States | |
| 15 | 50.93 miles (81.97 km) SSW | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,436.33 miles (18,404.95 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,422.33 miles (18,382.41 km) SSE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,410.70 miles (18,363.70 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,405.45 miles (18,355.25 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,324.03 miles (18,224.22 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,200.81 miles (18,025.92 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,196.09 miles (18,018.32 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,157.09 miles (17,955.55 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,059.82 miles (17,799.01 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,031.77 miles (17,753.87 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,029.40 miles (17,750.05 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,015.26 miles (17,727.30 km) ESE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,013.45 miles (17,724.39 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,003.76 miles (17,708.79 km) ESE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,988.60 miles (17,684.40 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |