Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Abilene, Texas, United States:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(32°24'47"N by 99°40'59"W)
Distance from MER to ABI:
1,229.33 miles (1,978.42 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- ABI Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about ABI
- 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 ABI
- List of Nearest Airports to ABI
- Map of Furthest Airports from ABI
- List of Furthest Airports from ABI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), Abilene, Texas, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,229 miles (or 1,978 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 relatively short distance between Castle Airport and Abilene Regional Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | ABI / KABI |
| Airport Name: | Abilene Regional Airport |
| Location: | Abilene, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 32°24'47"N by 99°40'59"W |
| Area Served: | Abilene, Texas |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1791 feet (546 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ABI |
| More Information: | ABI Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- 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.
- 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 EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
Facts about Abilene Regional Airport (ABI):
- Trans-Texas Airways flew turboprops from Amarillo and Lubbock as well as DC-9 jets to Dallas Love Field and then DFW.
- Abilene Regional Airport (ABI) has 3 runways.
- The closest airport to Abilene Regional Airport (ABI) is Dyess Air Force Base (DYS), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) W of ABI.
- The furthest airport from Abilene Regional Airport (ABI) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,072 miles (17,819 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Southwest Medevac houses a medical helicopter and crew at the airport, available for emergency response 24/7.
- Texas State Technical College provides aviation maintenance training at its on-field hangar base.
- Recent improvements include the reconstruction of the airline ramps near the terminal and a new, expanded public parking lot.
| 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 | 10.02 miles (16.13 km) W | Dyess Air Force Base (DYS) | Abilene, Texas, United States | |
| 2 | 42.79 miles (68.86 km) SSE | Coleman Municipal Airport (COM) | Coleman, Texas, United States | |
| 3 | 45.83 miles (73.75 km) W | Avenger Field (SWW) | Sweetwater, Texas, United States | |
| 4 | 60.35 miles (97.12 km) SE | Brownwood Regional Airport (BWD) | Brownwood, Texas, United States | |
| 5 | 79.88 miles (128.56 km) SSW | Goodfellow Air Force Base (GOF) | San Angelo, Texas, United States | |
| 6 | 85.04 miles (136.86 km) NE | Olney Municipal Airport (ONY) | Olney, Texas, United States | |
| 7 | 87.31 miles (140.51 km) SSW | San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT) | San Angelo, Texas, United States | |
| 8 | 87.84 miles (141.36 km) SSE | Curtis Field (BBD) | Brady, Texas, United States | |
| 9 | 97.83 miles (157.45 km) ENE | Mineral Wells Airport (MWL) | Mineral Wells, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 108.18 miles (174.10 km) W | Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Army Airfield (BGS) | Big Spring, Texas, United States | |
| 11 | 121.50 miles (195.53 km) NE | Kickapoo Downtown Airport (KIP) | Wichita Falls, Texas, United States | |
| 12 | 128.82 miles (207.31 km) NNE | Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS) | Wichita Falls, Texas, United States | |
| 13 | 132.78 miles (213.68 km) ENE | Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (FWH) | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | |
| 14 | 137.94 miles (222.00 km) ENE | Fort Worth Meacham Int'l Airport (FTW) | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | |
| 15 | 139.91 miles (225.16 km) NNE | Frederick Regional Airport (FDR) | Frederick, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,072.09 miles (17,818.75 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,815.29 miles (17,405.48 km) ESE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,727.92 miles (17,264.88 km) ESE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 10,716.94 miles (17,247.20 km) ESE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,690.82 miles (17,205.17 km) SW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,432.04 miles (16,788.70 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,412.86 miles (16,757.83 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,394.21 miles (16,727.81 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,390.99 miles (16,722.64 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,389.47 miles (16,720.20 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,388.70 miles (16,718.95 km) W | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,386.95 miles (16,716.13 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,385.22 miles (16,713.36 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,375.65 miles (16,697.95 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,368.40 miles (16,686.29 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |