Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Ballalae, Solomon Islands:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(6°59'32"S by 155°53'17"E)
Distance from MER to BAS:
6,159.89 miles (9,913.36 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BAS Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BAS
- 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 BAS
- List of Nearest Airports to BAS
- Map of Furthest Airports from BAS
- List of Furthest Airports from BAS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Balalae Airport (BAS), Ballalae, Solomon Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,160 miles (or 9,913 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 Balalae 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 Balalae 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: | BAS / AGGE |
| Airport Name: | Balalae Airport |
| Location: | Ballalae, Solomon Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 6°59'32"S by 155°53'17"E |
| Area Served: | Among other centres, Nila rural training centre -Shortland Island |
| Operator/Owner: | local community of shortland islands western province |
| Airport Type: | Grass airstrip suits STOL Twin Otter aircraft has |
| View all routes: | Routes from BAS |
| More Information: | BAS Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
Facts about Balalae Airport (BAS):
- The closest airport to Balalae Airport (BAS) is Mono Airport (MNY), which is located 37 miles (59 kilometers) SW of BAS.
- The furthest airport from Balalae Airport (BAS) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,891 miles (19,137 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 | 36.70 miles (59.07 km) SW | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 2 | 39.86 miles (64.15 km) ENE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 3 | 48.95 miles (78.77 km) NNW | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 101.53 miles (163.40 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 118.80 miles (191.18 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 131.82 miles (212.14 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 7 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) NW | Buka Island Airport (BUA) | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 206.65 miles (332.58 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 253.70 miles (408.28 km) SW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 264.16 miles (425.12 km) ESE | Fera Airport (FRE) | Maringe, Fera Island, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 11 | 270.13 miles (434.73 km) ESE | Yandina Airport (XYA) | Yandina, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 297.68 miles (479.06 km) WNW | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 302.94 miles (487.54 km) NW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 314.80 miles (506.62 km) WNW | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 329.53 miles (530.32 km) SW | Misima Airport (MIS) | Misima Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,891.05 miles (19,136.74 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,887.17 miles (19,130.50 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,880.20 miles (19,119.28 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,869.52 miles (19,102.09 km) N | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,811.07 miles (19,008.03 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 6 | 11,799.56 miles (18,989.50 km) N | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,798.98 miles (18,988.56 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,779.74 miles (18,957.60 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 9 | 11,773.73 miles (18,947.93 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,768.35 miles (18,939.27 km) WNW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 11 | 11,766.51 miles (18,936.32 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 12 | 11,758.57 miles (18,923.54 km) N | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,753.89 miles (18,916.01 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 14 | 11,738.20 miles (18,890.76 km) NW | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 15 | 11,728.23 miles (18,874.71 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |