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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- 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 (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
- 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.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
Facts about Balalae Airport (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.
- The closest airport to Balalae Airport (BAS) is Mono Airport (MNY), which is located 37 miles (59 kilometers) SW of BAS.
| 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 | |