Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Aniwa Island, Taféa, Vanuatu:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(19°14'3"S by 169°36'2"E)
Distance from MER to AWD:
5,985.98 miles (9,633.47 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- AWD Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about AWD
- 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 AWD
- List of Nearest Airports to AWD
- Map of Furthest Airports from AWD
- List of Furthest Airports from AWD
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Aniwa Airport (AWD), Aniwa Island, Taféa, Vanuatu would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,986 miles (or 9,633 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 Aniwa 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 Aniwa 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: | AWD / NVVB |
| Airport Name: | Aniwa Airport |
| Location: | Aniwa Island, Taféa, Vanuatu |
| GPS Coordinates: | 19°14'3"S by 169°36'2"E |
| Area Served: | Aniwa, Taféa, Vanuatu |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 69 feet (21 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from AWD |
| More Information: | AWD Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
Facts about Aniwa Airport (AWD):
- Because of Aniwa Airport's relatively low elevation of 69 feet, planes can take off or land at Aniwa 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 Aniwa Airport (AWD) is Tichitt Airport (THI), which is nearly antipodal to Aniwa Airport (meaning Aniwa Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Tichitt Airport), and is located 12,358 miles (19,888 kilometers) away in Tichitt, Mauritania.
- The closest airport to Aniwa Airport (AWD) is Ipota Airport (IPA), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) NW of AWD.
| 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 | 33.34 miles (53.66 km) NW | Ipota Airport (IPA) | Ipota, Erromango, Vanuatu | |
| 2 | 45.53 miles (73.28 km) ESE | Futuna Airport (FTA) | Futuna Island, Taféa, Vanuatu | |
| 3 | 50.64 miles (81.50 km) NW | Dillon's Bay Airport (DLY) | Dillon's Bay, Erromango, Taféa, Vanuatu | |
| 4 | 70.99 miles (114.24 km) S | Anatom Airport Aneityum Airport (AUY) | Anatom, Taféa, Vanuatu | |
| 5 | 135.27 miles (217.69 km) NW | Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) | Port Vila, Vanuatu | |
| 6 | 169.60 miles (272.95 km) NNW | Siwo Airport (EAE) | Sangafa, Emae, Shéfa, Vanuatu | |
| 7 | 175.97 miles (283.20 km) NNW | Tongoa Airport (TGH) | Tongoa, Shefa Province, Vanuatu | |
| 8 | 185.34 miles (298.28 km) SSW | Maré Airport (MEE) | Maré, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | |
| 9 | 206.18 miles (331.81 km) NNW | Lamen Bay Airport (LNB) | Lamen Bay, Epi Island, Shéfa Province, Vanuatu | |
| 10 | 225.32 miles (362.62 km) NNW | Malekoula Airport (LPM) | Lamap, Malampa, Vanuatu | |
| 11 | 232.93 miles (374.86 km) NNW | Craig Cove Airport (CCV) | Craig Cove, Ambrym Island, Malampa, Vanuatu | |
| 12 | 251.07 miles (404.05 km) NNW | Lonorore Airport (LNE) | Lonorore, Pentecost Island, Pénama Province, Vanuatu | |
| 13 | 261.69 miles (421.15 km) NW | Norsup Airport (NUS) | Norsup, Malakula island, Vanuatu | |
| 14 | 277.02 miles (445.82 km) NNW | Sara Airport (SSR) | Sara, Vanuatu | |
| 15 | 290.65 miles (467.76 km) SW | Nouméa Magenta Airport (GEA) | Nouméa, New Caledonia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,357.63 miles (19,887.63 km) NW | Tichitt Airport (THI) | Tichitt, Mauritania | |
| 2 | 12,355.64 miles (19,884.42 km) NE | Tidjikja Airport (TIY) | Tidjikja, Mauritania | |
| 3 | 12,295.82 miles (19,788.16 km) NNE | Tamchakett Airport (THT) | Tamchakett, Mauritania | |
| 4 | 12,265.15 miles (19,738.80 km) NE | Letfotar Airport (MOM) | Moudjeria, Mauritania | |
| 5 | 12,255.41 miles (19,723.12 km) NNW | Aioun el Atrouss Airport (AEO) | Aioun El Atrouss, Mauritania | |
| 6 | 12,243.84 miles (19,704.50 km) ENE | Atar Airport (ATR) | Atar, Mauritania | |
| 7 | 12,242.45 miles (19,702.27 km) NNE | Kiffa Airport (KFA) | Kiffa, Mauritania | |
| 8 | 12,182.66 miles (19,606.05 km) NW | Timbedra Airport (TMD) | Timbedra, Mauritania | |
| 9 | 12,175.04 miles (19,593.77 km) E | Akjoujt Airport (AJJ) | Akjoujt, Mauritania | |
| 10 | 12,171.40 miles (19,587.93 km) NNE | Tazadit International Airport (OUZ) | Zouerate, Mauritania | |
| 11 | 12,165.41 miles (19,578.29 km) NW | Néma Airport (EMN) | Nema, Mauritania | |
| 12 | 12,155.89 miles (19,562.96 km) NNE | Fderik Airport (FGD) | Fderik, Mauritania | |
| 13 | 12,155.43 miles (19,562.22 km) NNW | Nioro Airport (NIX) | Nioro, Mali | |
| 14 | 12,153.20 miles (19,558.63 km) N | Yélimané Airport (EYL) | Yélimané, Mali | |
| 15 | 12,141.87 miles (19,540.40 km) NE | Kaédi Airport (KED) | Kaédi, Mauritania | |