Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Port Alfred, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°33'15"S by 26°52'46"E)
Distance from MER to AFD:
10,595.25 miles (17,051.36 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- AFD Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about AFD
- 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 AFD
- List of Nearest Airports to AFD
- Map of Furthest Airports from AFD
- List of Furthest Airports from AFD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Port Alfred Airport (AFD), Port Alfred, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,595 miles (or 17,051 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 Port Alfred 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 Port Alfred 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: | AFD / FAPA |
| Airport Name: | Port Alfred Airport |
| Location: | Port Alfred, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°33'15"S by 26°52'46"E |
| Area Served: | Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 272 feet (83 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from AFD |
| More Information: | AFD Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- Castle Airport is a public use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States.
- 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 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 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 (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
Facts about Port Alfred Airport (AFD):
- The furthest airport from Port Alfred Airport (AFD) is Princeville Airport (HPV), which is located 11,563 miles (18,610 kilometers) away in Hanalei, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Port Alfred Airport (AFD) is East London Airport (ELS), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) ENE of AFD.
- Because of Port Alfred Airport's relatively low elevation of 272 feet, planes can take off or land at Port Alfred 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.
| 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 | 65.15 miles (104.85 km) ENE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 2 | 78.75 miles (126.73 km) WSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 3 | 173.72 miles (279.57 km) NE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 4 | 260.21 miles (418.77 km) N | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 5 | 260.23 miles (418.80 km) W | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 6 | 265.94 miles (427.99 km) NNE | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 273.77 miles (440.59 km) NNE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 275.03 miles (442.62 km) NE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 276.45 miles (444.91 km) NNE | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 285.49 miles (459.45 km) N | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 310.04 miles (498.96 km) N | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 12 | 322.25 miles (518.62 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 331.95 miles (534.23 km) NNE | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 340.19 miles (547.48 km) NE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 15 | 351.36 miles (565.46 km) NNW | Kimberley Airport (KIM) | Kimberley, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,563.45 miles (18,609.52 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,553.29 miles (18,593.17 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,552.04 miles (18,591.16 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,551.61 miles (18,590.47 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,550.42 miles (18,588.55 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,546.12 miles (18,581.63 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,542.55 miles (18,575.88 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,541.92 miles (18,574.88 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,541.92 miles (18,574.88 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,540.08 miles (18,571.91 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,539.63 miles (18,571.20 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,539.21 miles (18,570.52 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,538.17 miles (18,568.85 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,537.62 miles (18,567.96 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,523.91 miles (18,545.89 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |