Nonstop flight route between Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands and Santa Maria, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands and Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,586 miles (or 5,771 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 Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Santa Maria Public 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 Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and Santa Maria Public Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS):

• The airport houses the BVI Outstation of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.
• The furthest airport from Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (meaning Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,270 miles (19,746 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
• The closest airport to Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) is Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) W of EIS.
• Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) currently has only 1 runway.
• Historically, in 1986 the airport had scheduled passenger jet service operated by British Caribbean Airways with direct flights to Miami.
• Because of Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport's relatively low elevation of 16 feet, planes can take off or land at Terrance B. Lettsome International 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.

Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):

• Besides the current Allegiant jet service, SkyWest Airlines operating as United Express via a code sharing agreement with United Airlines flies Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops and sometimes Bombardier CRJ-200 Regional Jet nonstop to Los Angeles that served the airport for many years.
• At one point during the early 1980's Swift Aire Lines, which was based at the nearby San Luis Obispo Airport, was the only airline flying nonstop between Santa Maria and Los Angeles, primarily with Fokker F27 Friendship turboprops which the carrier had purchased new from the manufacturer.
• A 4,000-square-foot baggage claim facility opened in 2007.
• Other enhancements include a new passenger terminal holding room that opened February 2008.
• The furthest airport from Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,466 miles (18,453 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
• Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
• After the war Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria acquired the land and facilities through two grants in 1948.
• Because of Santa Maria Public Airport's relatively low elevation of 261 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria Public 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 addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
• The closest airport to Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) SSW of SMX.
• During its use by the military Santa Maria AAF also controlled Estrella Army Airfield, near Paso Robles as an auxiliary airfield to support the pilot training activity.