Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Aurukun, Queensland, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(13°21'14"S by 141°43'14"E)
Distance from MER to AUU:
7,194.02 miles (11,577.62 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- AUU Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about AUU
- 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 AUU
- List of Nearest Airports to AUU
- Map of Furthest Airports from AUU
- List of Furthest Airports from AUU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Aurukun Airport (AUU), Aurukun, Queensland, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,194 miles (or 11,578 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 Aurukun 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 Aurukun 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: | AUU / YAUR |
| Airport Name: | Aurukun Airport |
| Location: | Aurukun, Queensland, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 13°21'14"S by 141°43'14"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Aurukun Shire Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 29 feet (9 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from AUU |
| More Information: | AUU 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.
- 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.
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
- 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
Facts about Aurukun Airport (AUU):
- Because of Aurukun Airport's relatively low elevation of 29 feet, planes can take off or land at Aurukun 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.
- Aurukun Airport (AUU) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Aurukun Airport (AUU) is Weipa Airport (WEI), which is located 49 miles (78 kilometers) NNE of AUU.
- The furthest airport from Aurukun Airport (AUU) is Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE), which is located 11,523 miles (18,544 kilometers) away in São Vicente, 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 | 48.64 miles (78.29 km) NNE | Weipa Airport (WEI) | Weipa, Queensland, Australia | |
| 2 | 88.34 miles (142.16 km) NNE | Agnew Airport (AGW) | Agnew, Queensland, Australia | |
| 3 | 97.90 miles (157.56 km) ESE | Coen Airport (CUQ) | Coen, Queensland, Australia | |
| 4 | 106.86 miles (171.97 km) S | Edward River Airport (EDR) | Edward River, Queensland, Australia | |
| 5 | 113.57 miles (182.77 km) ENE | Lockhart River Airport (IRG) | Lockhart River, Queensland, Australia | |
| 6 | 147.30 miles (237.05 km) S | Kowanyama Airport (KWM) | Kowanyama, Queensland, Australia | |
| 7 | 173.37 miles (279.01 km) NNE | Northern Peninsula Airport (ABM) | Bamaga, Queensland, Australia | |
| 8 | 195.05 miles (313.90 km) NNE | Horn Island Airport (HID) | Horn Island, Queensland, Australia | |
| 9 | 218.84 miles (352.19 km) N | Kubin Airport (KUG) | Kubin, Moa Island, Queensland, Australia | |
| 10 | 223.49 miles (359.67 km) N | Badu Island Airport (BDD) | Badu Island, Queensland, Australia | |
| 11 | 245.77 miles (395.53 km) NNE | Coconut Island (CNC) | Coconut Island (Poruma Island), Queensland, Australia | |
| 12 | 249.95 miles (402.25 km) NNE | Yam Island Airport (XMY) | Yam Island, Queensland, Australia | |
| 13 | 266.40 miles (428.73 km) ESE | Lizard Island Airport (LZR) | Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia | |
| 14 | 273.11 miles (439.53 km) ESE | Cooktown Airport (CTN) | Cooktown, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 285.29 miles (459.13 km) NE | Murray Island Airport (MYI) | Murray Island, Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,522.86 miles (18,544.20 km) WNW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,518.75 miles (18,537.59 km) WNW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,506.32 miles (18,517.58 km) W | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,496.01 miles (18,501.00 km) W | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,476.59 miles (18,469.73 km) WNW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,440.46 miles (18,411.59 km) W | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,420.51 miles (18,379.49 km) W | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,390.98 miles (18,331.95 km) WNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,387.77 miles (18,326.80 km) WNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,310.34 miles (18,202.19 km) ENE | Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY) | Cayenne, French Guiana | |
| 11 | 11,289.58 miles (18,168.77 km) NNE | Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho International Airport (PHB) | Parnaiba, Piaui, Brazil | |
| 12 | 11,281.23 miles (18,155.33 km) NNE | Barreirinhas Airport (BRB) | Barreirinhas, Maranhão, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,262.11 miles (18,124.57 km) NNE | Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (Tirirical) (SLZ) | São Luís, Brazil | |
| 14 | 11,253.12 miles (18,110.10 km) N | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,234.10 miles (18,079.48 km) ENE | Albina Airstrip (ABN) | Albina, Suriname | |