Nonstop flight route between Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(37°46'41"N by 89°15'6"W)
Arrival Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Distance from MDH to BUA:
7,863.72 miles (12,655.40 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MDH Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about MDH
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to MDH
- List of Nearest Airports to MDH
- Map of Furthest Airports from MDH
- List of Furthest Airports from MDH
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Southern Illinois Airport (MDH), Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,864 miles (or 12,655 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 Southern Illinois Airport and Buka Island 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 Southern Illinois Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MDH / KMDH |
| Airport Name: | Southern Illinois Airport |
| Location: | Carbondale/Murphysboro, Illinois, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°46'41"N by 89°15'6"W |
| Area Served: | Carbondale / Murphysboro, Illinois |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 411 feet (125 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MDH |
| More Information: | MDH Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
| Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
| Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
| Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
| More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Facts about Southern Illinois Airport (MDH):
- The airport is owned and operated by Southern Illinois Airport Authority, a local governmental entity created under state law.
- Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) has 3 runways.
- The furthest airport from Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,052 miles (17,786 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) is Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) E of MDH.
- Because of Southern Illinois Airport's relatively low elevation of 411 feet, planes can take off or land at Southern Illinois 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.
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- In January 1944, the Allies drove the Japanese out of Buka, and the airfield was used for operations against the Japanese over New Guinea.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island 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.
- Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
- There is one navigational aid, the Buka NDB situated on nearby Sohano Island.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.25 miles (21.32 km) E | Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) | Marion, Illinois, United States |     |
| 2 | 42.00 miles (67.60 km) SSW | Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI) | Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States | |
| 3 | 43.33 miles (69.73 km) NNE | Mt. Vernon Airport (MVN) | Mount Vernon, Illinois, United States | |
| 4 | 56.13 miles (90.33 km) SSE | Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) | Paducah, Kentucky, United States | |
| 5 | 61.76 miles (99.38 km) NNE | Salem–Leckrone Airport (SLO) | Salem, Illinois, United States | |
| 6 | 61.76 miles (99.39 km) NNW | MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| 7 | 63.08 miles (101.52 km) SSW | Sikeston Memorial Municipal AirportHarvey Parks Army Airfield (SIK) | Sikeston, Missouri, United States | |
| 8 | 73.43 miles (118.17 km) N | Greenville Airport (GRE) | Greenville, Illinois, United States | |
| 9 | 73.57 miles (118.39 km) NW | St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) | Cahokia, Illinois (near St. Louis), United States | |
| 10 | 88.08 miles (141.75 km) NNW | St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) | Alton, Illinois, United States | |
| 11 | 90.04 miles (144.90 km) NW | Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| 12 | 90.88 miles (146.26 km) SSE | Murray-Calloway County Airport (CEY) | Murray, Kentucky, United States | |
| 13 | 91.13 miles (146.67 km) SSW | Malden Regional Airport (MAW) | Malden, Missouri, United States | |
| 14 | 95.53 miles (153.74 km) ENE | Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |
| 15 | 97.50 miles (156.92 km) NW | Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) | Chesterfield, Missouri, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,051.53 miles (17,785.68 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,029.89 miles (17,750.84 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,007.86 miles (17,715.39 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,001.79 miles (17,705.62 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,981.21 miles (17,672.50 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,965.17 miles (17,646.68 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,957.71 miles (17,634.68 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,956.35 miles (17,632.49 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,925.97 miles (17,583.60 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,923.77 miles (17,580.06 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,908.91 miles (17,556.14 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,907.23 miles (17,553.44 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,872.34 miles (17,497.29 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,871.76 miles (17,496.37 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,870.81 miles (17,494.82 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 70.73 miles (113.82 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 94.46 miles (152.01 km) SE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 148.20 miles (238.51 km) SE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 150.79 miles (242.66 km) SSE | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) WNW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 195.74 miles (315.01 km) NW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 198.38 miles (319.26 km) W | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 216.52 miles (348.46 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 218.28 miles (351.28 km) W | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 238.34 miles (383.57 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 239.73 miles (385.81 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 268.10 miles (431.47 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 288.56 miles (464.39 km) SSW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 293.54 miles (472.41 km) W | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.59 miles (18,958.98 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,768.57 miles (18,939.63 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,768.55 miles (18,939.59 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,749.15 miles (18,908.38 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,678.23 miles (18,794.25 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,678.02 miles (18,793.91 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,662.10 miles (18,768.29 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,648.17 miles (18,745.87 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,647.20 miles (18,744.31 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 11 | 11,639.22 miles (18,731.47 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 12 | 11,638.24 miles (18,729.88 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,631.66 miles (18,719.29 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,629.96 miles (18,716.56 km) NE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,622.66 miles (18,704.82 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |