Nonstop flight route between Great Falls, Montana, United States and Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil:
Departure Airport:
(47°30'16"N by 111°11'13"W)
Arrival Airport:
(29°42'38"S by 53°41'31"W)
Distance from GFA to RIA:
6,417.01 miles (10,327.16 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- GFA Airport Information
- RIA Airport Information
- Facts about GFA
- Facts about RIA
- Map of Nearest Airports to GFA
- List of Nearest Airports to GFA
- Map of Furthest Airports from GFA
- List of Furthest Airports from GFA
- 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA), Great Falls, Montana, United States and Santa Maria Airport (RIA), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,417 miles (or 10,327 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base 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: | GFA / KGFA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Great Falls, Montana, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 47°30'16"N by 111°11'13"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from GFA |
| More Information: | GFA 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA):
- In addition to being known as "Malmstrom Air Force Base", another name for GFA is "Malmstrom AFB".
- Great Falls played a major aerial defense role in North American air defense mission.
- The closest airport to Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA) is Great Falls International Airport (GTF), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) W of GFA.
- Great Falls AAB was assigned to II Bomber Command, Second Air Force.
- The North American Aerospace Defense Command was created in 1957.
- Upon completion of the B-17 training program, in October 1943, Great Falls Army Air Base was transferred to the Air Transport Command and units from Gore Field were transferred to the base.
- The furthest airport from Malmstrom Air Force Base (GFA) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,495 miles (16,891 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
Facts about Santa Maria Airport (RIA):
- 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.
- Since 1971, with the creation of the Santa Maria Air Force Base, civil and military facilities are shared.
- 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.
- 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.
- Some of its facilities are shared with the Santa Maria Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
- Santa Maria Airport (RIA) has 2 runways.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Airport", another name for RIA is "Aeroporto de Santa Maria".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 8.69 miles (13.99 km) W | Great Falls International Airport (GTF) | Great Falls, Montana, United States |     |
| 2 | 72.47 miles (116.63 km) SSW | Helena Regional Airport (HLN) | Helena, Montana, United States | |
| 3 | 78.24 miles (125.91 km) NNW | Shelby Airport (SBX) | Shelby, Montana, United States | |
| 4 | 86.58 miles (139.33 km) ESE | Lewistown Municipal Airport (LWT) | Lewistown, Montana, United States | |
| 5 | 93.96 miles (151.21 km) NW | Cut Bank Municipal AirportCut Bank Army Air Field (CTB) | Cut Bank, Montana, United States | |
| 6 | 97.38 miles (156.72 km) NE | Havre City-County Airport (HVR) | Havre, Montana, United States | |
| 7 | 119.35 miles (192.08 km) S | Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) | Bozeman, Montana, United States | |
| 8 | 123.77 miles (199.19 km) SSW | Bert Mooney Airport (BTM) | Butte, Montana, United States | |
| 9 | 129.57 miles (208.53 km) SSE | Mission Field (LVM) | Livingston, Montana, United States | |
| 10 | 142.19 miles (228.84 km) WSW | Missoula International Airport (MSO) | Missoula, Montana, United States | |
| 11 | 143.48 miles (230.90 km) ESE | Roundup Airport (RPX) | Roundup, Montana, United States | |
| 12 | 152.64 miles (245.65 km) WNW | Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) | Kalispell, Montana, United States | |
| 13 | 164.32 miles (264.45 km) NNW | Lethbridge Airport (YQL) | Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada | |
| 14 | 168.49 miles (271.16 km) SSW | Dillon Airport (DLN) | Dillon, Montana, United States | |
| 15 | 171.66 miles (276.26 km) SE | Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) | Billings, Montana, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,495.34 miles (16,890.57 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,479.89 miles (16,865.71 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 10,478.36 miles (16,863.24 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 4 | 10,465.08 miles (16,841.87 km) SSE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 10,453.61 miles (16,823.41 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 6 | 10,383.05 miles (16,709.86 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,291.74 miles (16,562.90 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,268.76 miles (16,525.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,182.63 miles (16,387.32 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,177.46 miles (16,379.00 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,165.43 miles (16,359.64 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,128.20 miles (16,299.71 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,117.69 miles (16,282.80 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,110.27 miles (16,270.87 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 10,103.25 miles (16,259.57 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 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 | |