Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Abaiang, Kiribati:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(1°47'47"N by 173°2'25"E)
Distance from MER to ABF:
4,857.21 miles (7,816.91 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- ABF Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about ABF
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to ABF
- List of Nearest Airports to ABF
- Map of Furthest Airports from ABF
- List of Furthest Airports from ABF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Abaiang Atoll Airport (ABF), Abaiang, Kiribati would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,857 miles (or 7,817 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 Castle Airport and Abaiang Atoll 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 Castle Airport and Abaiang Atoll Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MER / KMER |
| Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
| Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MER |
| More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ABF / NGAB |
| Airport Name: | Abaiang Atoll Airport |
| Location: | Abaiang, Kiribati |
| GPS Coordinates: | 1°47'47"N by 173°2'25"E |
| Area Served: | Abaiang, Kiribati |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ABF |
| More Information: | ABF Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
- EPA investigations have been completed at multiple areas of contamination including landfills, discharge areas, chemical disposal areas, fire training areas, fuel spill areas, and polychlorinated biphenyl spill areas.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Abaiang Atoll Airport (ABF):
- Because of Abaiang Atoll Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Abaiang Atoll 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 Abaiang Atoll Airport (ABF) is Cape Palmas Airport (CPA), which is nearly antipodal to Abaiang Atoll Airport (meaning Abaiang Atoll Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cape Palmas Airport), and is located 12,007 miles (19,323 kilometers) away in Cape Palmas, Liberia.
- The closest airport to Abaiang Atoll Airport (ABF) is Marakei Airport (MZK), which is located 23 miles (38 kilometers) NE of ABF.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 23.50 miles (37.82 km) NE | Marakei Airport (MZK) | Marakei, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 29.59 miles (47.61 km) SSE | Bonriki International Airport (TRW) | Tarawa, Kiribati | |
| 3 | 90.53 miles (145.69 km) N | Butaritari Atoll Airport (BBG) | Butaritari Atoll, Kiribati | |
| 4 | 105.37 miles (169.57 km) SSE | Abemama Atoll Airport (AEA) | Abemama Atoll, Kiribati | |
| 5 | 118.69 miles (191.01 km) SSE | Aranuka Airport (AAK) | Aranuka, Kiribati | |
| 6 | 299.02 miles (481.23 km) SE | Beru Island Airport (BEZ) | Beru, Kiribati | |
| 7 | 302.12 miles (486.21 km) NNW | Enejit Airport (EJT) | Enejit, Marshall Islands | |
| 8 | 309.74 miles (498.48 km) NNW | Mili Airport (MIJ) | Mili Atoll, Marshall Islands | |
| 9 | 353.48 miles (568.87 km) WNW | Ebon Airport (EBO) | Ebon Atoll, Marshall Islands | |
| 10 | 368.46 miles (592.99 km) NW | Jaluit Airport (UIT) | Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands | |
| 11 | 376.31 miles (605.62 km) NNW | Ine Airport (IMI) | Ine, Arno Atoll, Marshall Islands | |
| 12 | 376.75 miles (606.32 km) NNW | Tinak Airport (TIC) | Tinak, Arno Atoll, Marshall Islands | |
| 13 | 378.78 miles (609.58 km) NW | Kili Airport (KIO) | Kili Island, Marshall Islands | |
| 14 | 383.83 miles (617.72 km) NNW | Marshall Islands International Airport (MAJ) | Majuro, Marshall Islands | |
| 15 | 387.00 miles (622.81 km) NNW | Airok Airport (AIC) | Airok, Marshall Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,007.09 miles (19,323.48 km) N | Cape Palmas Airport (CPA) | Cape Palmas, Liberia | |
| 2 | 11,978.80 miles (19,277.97 km) NNE | Sasstown Airport (SAZ) | Sasstown, Liberia | |
| 3 | 11,968.71 miles (19,261.72 km) N | Sassandra Airport (ZSS) | Sassandra, Côte d'Ivoire | |
| 4 | 11,942.93 miles (19,220.24 km) NNE | Greenville/Sinoe Airport (SNI) | Greenville, Liberia | |
| 5 | 11,906.09 miles (19,160.95 km) NNW | Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) | Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire | |
| 6 | 11,900.85 miles (19,152.51 km) NNW | Divo Airport (DIV) | Divo, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | |
| 7 | 11,888.60 miles (19,132.79 km) N | Tchien Airport (THC) | Tchien, Liberia | |
| 8 | 11,886.87 miles (19,130.02 km) N | Gagnoa Airport (GGN) | Gagnoa, Côte d'Ivoire | |
| 9 | 11,876.03 miles (19,112.57 km) NNW | Aboisso Airport (ABO) | Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire | |
| 10 | 11,863.39 miles (19,092.23 km) NNE | Buchanan Airport (UCN) | Buchanan, Liberia | |
| 11 | 11,859.95 miles (19,086.69 km) N | Guiglo Airport (GGO) | Guiglo, Côte d'Ivoire | |
| 12 | 11,852.07 miles (19,074.01 km) NW | Takoradi Airport (TKD) | Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana | |
| 13 | 11,842.40 miles (19,058.44 km) N | Daloa Airport (DJO) | Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | |
| 14 | 11,834.35 miles (19,045.50 km) NNE | Roberts International Airport Roberts Field (ROB) | Monrovia, Liberia | |
| 15 | 11,831.58 miles (19,041.03 km) NNW | Dimbokro Airport (DIM) | Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire | |