Nonstop flight route between Phuket, Thailand and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Phuket International Airport (HKT), Phuket, Thailand and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,414 miles (or 13,541 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 Phuket International Airport and Castle 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 Phuket International Airport and Castle 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 Phuket International Airport (HKT):

• Phuket International Airport (HKT) currently has only 1 runway.
• The furthest airport from Phuket International Airport (HKT) is Cap. FAP José A. Quiñones González International Airport (CIX), which is nearly antipodal to Phuket International Airport (meaning Phuket International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cap. FAP José A. Quiñones González International Airport), and is located 12,280 miles (19,763 kilometers) away in Chiclayo, Peru.
• The airport is at an elevation of 82 feet above mean sea level.
• In addition to being known as "Phuket International Airport", another name for HKT is "ท่าอากาศยานภูเก็ต".
• Because of Phuket International Airport's relatively low elevation of 82 feet, planes can take off or land at Phuket 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.
• Phuket International Airport handled 11,342,491 passengers last year.
• Phuket is one of the most favorite tourist destinations in the region.
• The closest airport to Phuket International Airport (HKT) is Krabi International Airport (KBV), which is located 46 miles (74 kilometers) E of HKT.

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle 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 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
• Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
• Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
• With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.