Nonstop flight route between Galena, Alaska, United States and Mendi, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W)
Arrival Airport:
(6°8'51"S by 143°39'25"E)
Distance from GAL to MDU:
5,745.71 miles (9,246.80 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- GAL Airport Information
- MDU Airport Information
- Facts about GAL
- Facts about MDU
- Map of Nearest Airports to GAL
- List of Nearest Airports to GAL
- Map of Furthest Airports from GAL
- List of Furthest Airports from GAL
- Map of Nearest Airports to MDU
- List of Nearest Airports to MDU
- Map of Furthest Airports from MDU
- List of Furthest Airports from MDU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL), Galena, Alaska, United States and Mendi Airport (MDU), Mendi, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,746 miles (or 9,247 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 Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport and Mendi 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 Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport and Mendi Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GAL / PAGA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Galena, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W |
| Area Served: | Galena, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 153 feet (47 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GAL |
| More Information: | GAL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MDU / AYMN |
| Airport Name: | Mendi Airport |
| Location: | Mendi, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 6°8'51"S by 143°39'25"E |
| Elevation: | 5680 feet (1,731 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MDU |
| More Information: | MDU Maps & Info |
Facts about Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL):
- In addition to being known as "Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport", another name for GAL is "(former Galena Air Force Base)".
- As Galena Airport, it was used as a military transport base during World War II, facilitating the transit of Lend-Lease aircraft to the Soviet Union.
- The closest airport to Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is Koyukuk Airport (KYU), which is located 25 miles (41 kilometers) WNW of GAL.
- Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is George Airport (GRJ), which is located 10,313 miles (16,598 kilometers) away in George, South Africa.
- Because of Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport's relatively low elevation of 153 feet, planes can take off or land at Edward G. Pitka Sr. 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 airport also sports a ski-jump takeoff ramp at one end and provisions for arresting gear at the other, a leftover from the Cold War years as Galena Air Force Base, as tactical aircraft required more landing and takeoff space than was available on the runway.
Facts about Mendi Airport (MDU):
- The closest airport to Mendi Airport (MDU) is Moro Airport (MXH), which is located 32 miles (52 kilometers) WSW of MDU.
- Because of Mendi Airport's high elevation of 5,680 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at MDU. Combined with a high temperature, this could make MDU a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Mendi Airport (MDU) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Mendi Airport (MDU) is Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR), which is located 11,735 miles (18,885 kilometers) away in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 25.24 miles (40.63 km) WNW | Koyukuk Airport (KYU) | Koyukuk, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 33.53 miles (53.95 km) W | Nulato Airport (NUL) | Nulato, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 43.28 miles (69.66 km) E | Ruby Airport (RBY) | Ruby, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 60.86 miles (97.94 km) WSW | Kaltag Airport (KAL) | Kaltag, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 68.58 miles (110.37 km) NNE | Huslia Airport (HSL) | Huslia, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 83.93 miles (135.07 km) SSE | Bear Creek 3 Airport (BCC) | Bear Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 118.39 miles (190.53 km) NE | Hughes Airport (HUS) | Hughes, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 123.53 miles (198.81 km) SSE | Takotna Airport (TCT) | Takotna, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 124.64 miles (200.60 km) W | Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport (KKA) | Koyuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 127.30 miles (204.87 km) NE | Indian Mountain LRRS Airport (UTO) | Utopia Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 127.43 miles (205.08 km) WNW | Haycock Airport (HAY) | Haycock, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 129.61 miles (208.58 km) WSW | Unalakleet Airport (UNK) | Unalakleet, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 129.70 miles (208.73 km) W | Shaktoolik Airport (SKK) | Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 129.70 miles (208.73 km) SSE | McGrath Airport (MCG) | McGrath, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 130.57 miles (210.14 km) SSE | Tatalina LRRS Airport (TLJ) | Takotna, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,313.41 miles (16,597.78 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,309.38 miles (16,591.29 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,302.73 miles (16,580.59 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,276.31 miles (16,538.08 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,237.19 miles (16,475.12 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,131.03 miles (16,304.27 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,076.40 miles (16,216.36 km) SE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 8 | 10,075.25 miles (16,214.50 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,017.04 miles (16,120.83 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,016.20 miles (16,119.47 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,015.87 miles (16,118.95 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,008.98 miles (16,107.85 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 10,001.06 miles (16,095.11 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,991.80 miles (16,080.21 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,991.52 miles (16,079.76 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 32.41 miles (52.16 km) WSW | Moro Airport (MXH) | Moro, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 49.17 miles (79.14 km) ENE | Mount Hagen Airport (HGU) | Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 84.20 miles (135.51 km) NNE | Sangapi Airport (SGK) | Sangapi, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 90.62 miles (145.84 km) E | Chimbu Airport (CMU) | Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 97.15 miles (156.34 km) SSE | Kikori Airport (KRI) | Kikori, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 101.43 miles (163.23 km) NE | Aiome Airport (AIE) | Aiome, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 115.37 miles (185.67 km) SSW | Sasereme Airport (TDS) | Sasereme, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 119.26 miles (191.93 km) E | Goroka Airport (GKA) | Goroka, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 122.70 miles (197.47 km) SE | Baimuru Airport (VMU) | Baimuru, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 138.30 miles (222.58 km) WNW | Biangabip Airport (BPK) | Biangabip, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 143.15 miles (230.38 km) SSW | Awaba Airport (AWB) | Awaba, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 154.87 miles (249.24 km) E | Aiyura Airport (AYU) | Aiyura, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 157.88 miles (254.09 km) NW | Frieda River Airport (FAQ) | Frieda River, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 157.89 miles (254.10 km) ESE | Andakombe Airport (ADC) | Andakombe, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 158.37 miles (254.87 km) E | Gusap Airport (GAP) | Gusap, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,734.70 miles (18,885.13 km) NNE | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,709.94 miles (18,845.27 km) NNE | Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho International Airport (PHB) | Parnaiba, Piaui, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,694.80 miles (18,820.91 km) NNW | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 4 | 11,676.98 miles (18,792.23 km) NE | Barreirinhas Airport (BRB) | Barreirinhas, Maranhão, Brazil | |
| 5 | 11,649.89 miles (18,748.63 km) N | Gov. Dix-Sept Rosado Airport (MVF) | Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| 6 | 11,623.91 miles (18,706.82 km) NE | Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (Tirirical) (SLZ) | São Luís, Brazil | |
| 7 | 11,600.40 miles (18,668.98 km) N | Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) | Natal, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,542.58 miles (18,575.94 km) NNE | Teresina–Senador Petrônio Portella Airport (THE) | Teresina, Piauí, Brazil | |
| 9 | 11,513.29 miles (18,528.79 km) S | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 10 | 11,509.27 miles (18,522.32 km) S | Presidente João Suassuna Airport (CPV) | Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,451.03 miles (18,428.60 km) ENE | Belém/Val de Cans–Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport (BEL) | Belém, Pará, Brazil | |
| 12 | 11,445.71 miles (18,420.04 km) S | Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) | Recife, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,430.70 miles (18,395.88 km) NW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 14 | 11,416.57 miles (18,373.14 km) NW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 15 | 11,375.19 miles (18,306.54 km) NW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |