Nonstop flight route between Decatur, Alabama, United States and Rabaul, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(34°39'15"N by 86°56'43"W)
Arrival Airport:
(4°20'25"S by 152°22'45"E)
Distance from DCU to RAB:
8,117.34 miles (13,063.56 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DCU Airport Information
- RAB Airport Information
- Facts about DCU
- Facts about RAB
- 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 RAB
- List of Nearest Airports to RAB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RAB
- List of Furthest Airports from RAB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), Decatur, Alabama, United States and Rabaul Airport (RAB), Rabaul, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,117 miles (or 13,064 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 Rabaul 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 Rabaul 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: | RAB / AYTK |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 4°20'25"S by 152°22'45"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 32 feet (10 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RAB |
| More Information: | RAB Maps & Info |
Facts about Pryor Field Regional Airport (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.
- A newly built $1.8 million terminal building opened in 2008 at the north end of the field as part of a federally funded $3.3 million project.
- Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- In January 2010, the pilot training site was designated a historic landmark and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
- 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.
- Opened in October 1941 with 4,600 by 4,600 feet square all-direction turf runway.
Facts about Rabaul Airport (RAB):
- Because of Rabaul Airport's relatively low elevation of 32 feet, planes can take off or land at Rabaul 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 Rabaul Airport (RAB) is Namatanai Airport (ATN), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) N of RAB.
- The airport resides at an elevation of 32 feet above mean sea level.
- In addition to being known as "Rabaul Airport", another name for RAB is "Tokua Airport".
- The furthest airport from Rabaul Airport (RAB) is Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN), which is located 11,780 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Rabaul Airport (RAB) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 46.72 miles (75.18 km) N | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 91.30 miles (146.93 km) N | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 94.86 miles (152.67 km) SSW | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 108.75 miles (175.02 km) SSW | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 127.72 miles (205.55 km) E | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 156.47 miles (251.82 km) WSW | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 162.96 miles (262.25 km) NW | Kavieng Airport (KVG) | Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) ESE | Buka Island Airport (BUA) | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 194.14 miles (312.43 km) SW | Gasmata Airport (GMI) | Gasmata Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 234.04 miles (376.64 km) WSW | Kandrian Airport (KDR) | Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 249.57 miles (401.64 km) NW | Emirau Airport (EMI) | Emirau, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 267.04 miles (429.76 km) ESE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 282.49 miles (454.62 km) WSW | Cape Gloucester Airport (CGC) | Cape Gloucester, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 301.27 miles (484.84 km) SSW | Losuia Airport (Kiriwina Airfield) (LSA) | Losuia, Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 302.94 miles (487.54 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.47 miles (18,958.79 km) NNE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,677.69 miles (18,793.37 km) NNW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,664.26 miles (18,771.76 km) NNW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,653.51 miles (18,754.46 km) NNW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,631.72 miles (18,719.39 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,560.86 miles (18,605.35 km) NNW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,560.74 miles (18,605.16 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,556.32 miles (18,598.04 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,554.50 miles (18,595.12 km) SE | Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) | Natal, Brazil | |
| 10 | 11,531.71 miles (18,558.44 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 11 | 11,523.24 miles (18,544.81 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 12 | 11,508.13 miles (18,520.50 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 13 | 11,498.37 miles (18,504.79 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 14 | 11,497.70 miles (18,503.72 km) NE | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,495.96 miles (18,500.92 km) SSE | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |