Nonstop flight route between Galena, Alaska, United States and Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil:
Departure Airport:
(64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°42'38"S by 53°41'31"W)
Distance from GAL to RIA:
8,444.48 miles (13,590.03 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GAL Airport Information
- RIA Airport Information
- Facts about GAL
- Facts about RIA
- 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 RIA
- List of Nearest Airports to RIA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RIA
- List of Furthest Airports from RIA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL), Galena, Alaska, United States and Santa Maria Airport (RIA), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,444 miles (or 13,590 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 Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria 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: | RIA / SBSM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°42'38"S by 53°41'31"W |
| Area Served: | Santa Maria |
| Operator/Owner: | Brazilian Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military |
| Elevation: | 289 feet (88 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RIA |
| More Information: | RIA Maps & Info |
Facts about Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL):
- As Galena Air Force Base, it was used by the USAF during the Cold War as an interceptor base for aircraft patrolling the western areas of Alaska.
- Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Santa Maria Airport (RIA):
- Some of its facilities are shared with the Santa Maria Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
- It is operated by the Brazilian Air Force.
- The closest airport to Santa Maria Airport (RIA) is João Batista Bos Filho Airport (IJU), which is located 93 miles (150 kilometers) N of RIA.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Airport", another name for RIA is "Aeroporto de Santa Maria".
- Because of Santa Maria Airport's relatively low elevation of 289 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria Airport (RIA) is Aguni Airport (AGJ), which is nearly antipodal to Santa Maria Airport (meaning Santa Maria Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Aguni Airport), and is located 12,214 miles (19,656 kilometers) away in Aguni, Japan.
- Santa Maria Airport (RIA) has 2 runways.
- Since 1971, with the creation of the Santa Maria Air Force Base, civil and military facilities are shared.
| 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 | 93.10 miles (149.84 km) N | João Batista Bos Filho Airport (IJU) | Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 2 | 102.82 miles (165.48 km) NNW | Sepé Tiaraju Airport (GEL) | Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 3 | 118.70 miles (191.04 km) SSW | Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport (BGX) | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 4 | 130.56 miles (210.12 km) NE | Lauro Kurtz Airport (PFB) | Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 5 | 132.14 miles (212.66 km) W | Gaudêncio Machado Ramos Airport (ALQ) | Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 6 | 137.61 miles (221.46 km) SW | Pres. Gral. Óscar D. Gestido International Airport (RVY) | Rivera, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 7 | 149.90 miles (241.24 km) SSW | Cerro Largo International Airport (VCH) | Vichadero, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 8 | 152.34 miles (245.16 km) E | Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 9 | 160.41 miles (258.16 km) SSE | Pelotas International Airport (PET) | Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 10 | 165.66 miles (266.61 km) NNE | Erechim Airport (ERM) | Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 11 | 174.99 miles (281.62 km) WSW | Artigas International Airport (ATI) | Artigas, Artigas, Uruguay | |
| 12 | 184.51 miles (296.94 km) S | Cerro Largo International Airport (MLZ) | Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay | |
| 13 | 187.21 miles (301.28 km) SSE | Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG) | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| 14 | 188.73 miles (303.73 km) NNE | Serafin Enoss Bertaso Airport (XAP) | Chapecó, Brazil | |
| 15 | 193.46 miles (311.35 km) SW | Tacuarembó Airport (TAW) | Tacuarembó, Tacuarembó, Uruguay | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,214.00 miles (19,656.48 km) NNW | Aguni Airport (AGJ) | Aguni, Japan | |
| 2 | 12,212.99 miles (19,654.86 km) WNW | Amami Airport (ASJ) | Amami Island, Japan | |
| 3 | 12,211.55 miles (19,652.53 km) NNW | Iejima Airport (IEJ) | Iejima, Japan | |
| 4 | 12,199.80 miles (19,633.62 km) E | Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport (HSN) | Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China | |
| 5 | 12,197.94 miles (19,630.63 km) WNW | Kikai Airport (KKX) | Kikaiga Shima, Kikai-Shima Island, Japan | |
| 6 | 12,188.18 miles (19,614.93 km) NNW | Kadena Air Base 嘉手納飛行場 Kadena Hikōjō (DNA) | Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | |
| 7 | 12,184.76 miles (19,609.41 km) NNW | Kerama Airport (KJP) | Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan | |
| 8 | 12,183.89 miles (19,608.02 km) NW | Fukue Airport (FUJ) | Gotō, Nagasaki, Japan | |
| 9 | 12,181.00 miles (19,603.37 km) N | Jeongseok / Jungseok Airport (JDG) | Jeju province, South Korea | |
| 10 | 12,180.58 miles (19,602.70 km) NNW | Naha Airport (OKA) | Okinawa, Japan | |
| 11 | 12,173.98 miles (19,592.07 km) N | Jeju International Airport (CJU) | Jeju, South Korea | |
| 12 | 12,172.43 miles (19,589.58 km) W | Yakushima Airport (KUM) | Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan | |
| 13 | 12,150.90 miles (19,554.94 km) ENE | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) | Shanghai, People's Republic of China | |
| 14 | 12,146.08 miles (19,547.17 km) E | Ningbo Lishe International Airport (NGB) | Ningbo, Zhejiang, China | |
| 15 | 12,137.78 miles (19,533.81 km) WNW | Kagoshima Airport (KOJ) | Kagoshima, Japan | |