Nonstop flight route between Houston, Texas, United States and Fairbanks, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(29°49'5"N by 95°40'20"W)
Arrival Airport:
(64°39'56"N by 147°6'5"W)
Distance from IWS to EIL:
3,253.34 miles (5,235.73 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- IWS Airport Information
- EIL Airport Information
- Facts about IWS
- Facts about EIL
- Map of Nearest Airports to IWS
- List of Nearest Airports to IWS
- Map of Furthest Airports from IWS
- List of Furthest Airports from IWS
- Map of Nearest Airports to EIL
- List of Nearest Airports to EIL
- Map of Furthest Airports from EIL
- List of Furthest Airports from EIL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between West Houston Airport (IWS), Houston, Texas, United States and Eielson Air Force Base (EIL), Fairbanks, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,253 miles (or 5,236 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 West Houston Airport and Eielson 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 West Houston Airport and Eielson 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: | IWS / KIWS |
| Airport Name: | West Houston Airport |
| Location: | Houston, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 29°49'5"N by 95°40'20"W |
| Area Served: | Houston, Texas |
| Operator/Owner: | West Houston Airport Corp. |
| Airport Type: | Public use |
| Elevation: | 111 feet (34 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from IWS |
| More Information: | IWS Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | EIL / PAEI |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 64°39'56"N by 147°6'5"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from EIL |
| More Information: | EIL Maps & Info |
Facts about West Houston Airport (IWS):
- West Houston Airport (IWS) currently has only 1 runway.
- On January 3, 2012, a pilot flying a 1985 Cessna 172P with a 180 HP engine from West Houston Airport to Lone Star Executive Airport reported losing power to her aircraft.
- Because of West Houston Airport's relatively low elevation of 111 feet, planes can take off or land at West Houston 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 West Houston Airport (IWS) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is located 10,979 miles (17,668 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.
- The closest airport to West Houston Airport (IWS) is Andrau Airpark (AAP), which is located only 9 miles (14 kilometers) SE of IWS.
Facts about Eielson Air Force Base (EIL):
- Eielson AFB was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field.
- The Air Defense Command deployed interceptors to Eielson during the 1960s.
- The closest airport to Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) is Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) NW of EIL.
- The furthest airport from Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,295 miles (16,568 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
- In addition to being known as "Eielson Air Force Base", another name for EIL is "Eielson AFB".
- A new chapter for the base began 1 October 1981 when the 343d Composite Wing replaced the 5010th as Eielson's host unit.
- A month later, contractors and civilian crews from Ladd Field started laying out the new airfield.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 8.83 miles (14.21 km) SE | Andrau Airpark (AAP) | Houston, Texas, United States |     |
| 2 | 13.58 miles (21.86 km) S | Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR) | Sugar Land, Texas (near Houston), United States | |
| 3 | 18.29 miles (29.44 km) NNE | David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 4 | 22.91 miles (36.88 km) ENE | George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 5 | 26.46 miles (42.59 km) ESE | William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 6 | 34.10 miles (54.88 km) ESE | Ellington Field Joint Reserve BaseEllington Air Force BaseEllington Field (EFD) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 7 | 40.00 miles (64.38 km) NNE | Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| 8 | 43.21 miles (69.54 km) E | Baytown Airport (HPY) | Baytown, Texas, United States | |
| 9 | 48.56 miles (78.15 km) SW | Wharton Regional Airport (WHT) | Wharton, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 50.64 miles (81.50 km) SSE | Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport (LJN) | Angleton / Lake Jackson, Texas, United States | |
| 11 | 59.50 miles (95.76 km) S | Bay City Municipal Airport (BBC) | Bay City, Texas, United States | |
| 12 | 61.99 miles (99.76 km) SE | Scholes International Airport at Galveston (GLS) | Galveston, Texas, United States | |
| 13 | 64.36 miles (103.58 km) N | Bruce Brothers Huntsville Regional Airport (HTV) | Huntsville, Texas, United States | |
| 14 | 67.36 miles (108.40 km) NW | Easterwood Airport (CLL) | College Station, Texas, United States | |
| 15 | 73.41 miles (118.14 km) NNW | Coulter Field (CFD) | Bryan, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,978.58 miles (17,668.27 km) SW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,952.82 miles (17,626.82 km) ESE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,653.72 miles (17,145.45 km) ESE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 10,634.50 miles (17,114.52 km) W | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,622.80 miles (17,095.70 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,615.95 miles (17,084.67 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,610.33 miles (17,075.63 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,609.04 miles (17,073.55 km) W | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,604.64 miles (17,066.48 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,598.75 miles (17,056.99 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,586.79 miles (17,037.74 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,582.60 miles (17,030.99 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,567.23 miles (17,006.26 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,561.50 miles (16,997.04 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,558.05 miles (16,991.49 km) W | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 19.23 miles (30.95 km) NW | Ladd Army Airfield (FBK) | Fairbanks / Fort Wainwright, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 24.54 miles (39.49 km) WNW | Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 59.01 miles (94.97 km) W | Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN) | Nenana, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 59.31 miles (95.46 km) SE | Delta Junction Airport (DJN) | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 62.08 miles (99.91 km) SE | Allen Army Airfield (BIG) | Fort Greely, Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 74.32 miles (119.61 km) WNW | Minto Al Wright Airport (MNT) | Minto, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 84.35 miles (135.75 km) SW | McKinley National Park Airport (MCL) | McKinley Park, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 85.66 miles (137.86 km) ESE | Healy River Airport (HKB) | Healy Lake, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 92.02 miles (148.08 km) NE | Circle Hot Springs Airport (CHP) | Circle Hot Springs, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 92.13 miles (148.26 km) NE | Central Airport (CEM) | Central, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 105.87 miles (170.38 km) NW | Rampart Airport (RMP) | Rampart, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 106.58 miles (171.53 km) WNW | Manley Hot Springs Airport (MLY) | Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 109.02 miles (175.45 km) NNW | Stevens Village Airport (SVS) | Stevens Village, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 110.73 miles (178.20 km) SW | Summit Airport (UMM) | Summit, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 117.00 miles (188.30 km) NNE | Birch Creek Airport (KBC) | Birch Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,294.82 miles (16,567.87 km) SSE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,272.65 miles (16,532.19 km) SSE | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,272.20 miles (16,531.45 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,240.74 miles (16,480.83 km) S | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,232.10 miles (16,466.93 km) SSE | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,141.32 miles (16,320.83 km) S | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,098.42 miles (16,251.80 km) S | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,027.05 miles (16,136.93 km) S | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 10,021.32 miles (16,127.70 km) S | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 10,016.69 miles (16,120.27 km) S | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 10,015.39 miles (16,118.17 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 10,014.79 miles (16,117.20 km) S | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,013.90 miles (16,115.78 km) S | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,993.38 miles (16,082.74 km) S | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,986.33 miles (16,071.40 km) S | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |