Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Abau, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(10°10'1"S by 148°41'59"E)
Distance from MER to ABW:
6,683.26 miles (10,755.64 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- ABW Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about ABW
- 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 ABW
- List of Nearest Airports to ABW
- Map of Furthest Airports from ABW
- List of Furthest Airports from ABW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Abau Airport (ABW), Abau, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,683 miles (or 10,756 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 Abau 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 Abau 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: | ABW / |
| Airport Name: | Abau Airport |
| Location: | Abau, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 10°10'1"S by 148°41'59"E |
| Elevation: | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ABW |
| More Information: | ABW Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Abau Airport (ABW):
- Because of Abau Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Abau 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 closest airport to Abau Airport (ABW) is Agaun Airport (AUP), which is located 49 miles (80 kilometers) ENE of ABW.
- The furthest airport from Abau Airport (ABW) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,873 miles (19,108 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
| 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 | 49.42 miles (79.53 km) ENE | Agaun Airport (AUP) | Agaun, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 65.17 miles (104.88 km) NNE | Wanigela Airport (AGL) | Wanigela, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 99.50 miles (160.13 km) NW | Efogi Airport (EFG) | Efogi, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 103.34 miles (166.31 km) NW | Haelogo Airport (HEO) | Haelogo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 110.49 miles (177.82 km) NW | Kokoda Airport (KKD) | Kokoda, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 111.52 miles (179.48 km) E | Gurney Airport (GUR) | Alotau, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 112.49 miles (181.03 km) WNW | Jacksons International Airport (POM) | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 125.32 miles (201.69 km) ENE | Vivigani Airport (VIV) | Vivigani, Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 156.79 miles (252.33 km) NW | Fane Airport (FNE) | Fane, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 198.78 miles (319.90 km) NE | Losuia Airport (Kiriwina Airfield) (LSA) | Losuia, Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 247.35 miles (398.06 km) NW | Bulolo Airport (BUL) | Bulolo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 251.20 miles (404.26 km) NW | Kerema Airport (KMA) | Kerema, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 251.65 miles (404.98 km) NNW | Finschhafen Airport (FIN) | Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 274.27 miles (441.39 km) NW | Ihu Airport (IHU) | Ihu, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 279.51 miles (449.82 km) NNE | Kandrian Airport (KDR) | Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,873.21 miles (19,108.04 km) NW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,859.15 miles (19,085.41 km) NW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,816.31 miles (19,016.46 km) WNW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,814.04 miles (19,012.81 km) NW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,796.63 miles (18,984.79 km) NW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,792.05 miles (18,977.41 km) WNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,789.54 miles (18,973.38 km) NW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,736.78 miles (18,888.48 km) NW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,715.03 miles (18,853.47 km) NW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,464.88 miles (18,450.90 km) N | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,453.33 miles (18,432.31 km) WNW | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 12 | 11,438.74 miles (18,408.83 km) W | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 13 | 11,422.27 miles (18,382.31 km) WNW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,406.36 miles (18,356.71 km) W | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 15 | 11,384.40 miles (18,321.37 km) W | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |