Nonstop flight route between Galena, Alaska, United States and Sumter, South Carolina, United States:
Departure Airport:
(64°44'9"N by 156°56'15"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W)
Distance from GAL to SSC:
3,729.05 miles (6,001.32 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GAL Airport Information
- SSC Airport Information
- Facts about GAL
- Facts about SSC
- 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 SSC
- List of Nearest Airports to SSC
- Map of Furthest Airports from SSC
- List of Furthest Airports from SSC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL), Galena, Alaska, United States and Shaw Air Force Base (SSC), Sumter, South Carolina, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,729 miles (or 6,001 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 Shaw Air Force Base, 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 Shaw Air Force Base. 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: | SSC / KSSC |
| Airport Name: | Shaw Air Force Base |
| Location: | Sumter, South Carolina, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°58'23"N by 80°28'22"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from SSC |
| More Information: | SSC 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.
- 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.
- Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport", another name for GAL is "(former Galena Air Force Base)".
- The closest airport to Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL) is Koyukuk Airport (KYU), which is located 25 miles (41 kilometers) WNW of GAL.
Facts about Shaw Air Force Base (SSC):
- The 20th FG was reassigned to Langley AFB, Virginia on 1 December 1951 in preparation for a permanent overseas deployment to RAF Wethersfield, England to support NATO.
- On 1 April 1945 jurisdiction of Shaw Field was transferred to First Air Force.
- The closest airport to Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Sumter Airport (SUM), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) ENE of SSC.
- The 363d TFW received its first F-16 on 26 March 1982.
- The furthest airport from Shaw Air Force Base (SSC) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,545 miles (18,580 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
| 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 | 6.56 miles (10.56 km) ENE | Sumter Airport (SUM) | Sumter, South Carolina, United States | |
| 2 | 19.16 miles (30.84 km) W | McEntire Joint National Guard Base Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield CongareeCongaree Army Airfield (MMT) | Eastover, South Carolina, United States | |
| 3 | 22.10 miles (35.56 km) NNW | Woodward Field (CDN) | Camden, South Carolina, United States | |
| 4 | 29.94 miles (48.18 km) W | Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport (CUB) | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | |
| 5 | 35.93 miles (57.83 km) NE | Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS) | Hartsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 6 | 37.14 miles (59.76 km) W | Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) | West Columbia (near Columbia), South Carolina, United States | |
| 7 | 42.02 miles (67.62 km) SSW | Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB) | Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States | |
| 8 | 45.30 miles (72.90 km) ENE | Florence Regional Airport (FLO) | Florence, South Carolina, United States | |
| 9 | 58.98 miles (94.91 km) NNE | Cheraw Municipal Airport (HCW) | Cheraw, South Carolina, United States | |
| 10 | 61.52 miles (99.00 km) NE | Marlboro County Jetport (BTN) | Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States | |
| 11 | 65.25 miles (105.02 km) ESE | Robert F. Swinnie Airport (ADR) | Andrews, South Carolina, United States | |
| 12 | 71.15 miles (114.51 km) ENE | Dillon County Airport (DLL) | Dillon, South Carolina, United States | |
| 13 | 72.21 miles (116.21 km) SW | Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) | Barnwell, South Carolina, United States | |
| 14 | 73.09 miles (117.63 km) WSW | Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK) | Aiken, South Carolina, United States | |
| 15 | 73.32 miles (118.00 km) S | Lowcountry Regional Airport (RBW) | Walterboro, South Carolina, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,545.12 miles (18,580.03 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,526.46 miles (18,549.99 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,508.26 miles (18,520.70 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,499.92 miles (18,507.29 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,494.70 miles (18,498.88 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,487.36 miles (18,487.07 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,481.75 miles (18,478.04 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,474.49 miles (18,466.35 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,473.86 miles (18,465.34 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,462.29 miles (18,446.72 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,428.78 miles (18,392.80 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,419.93 miles (18,378.55 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,412.96 miles (18,367.34 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,397.61 miles (18,342.63 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,394.58 miles (18,337.76 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |