Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and near Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from MER to BON:
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BON Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BON
- 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 BON
- List of Nearest Airports to BON
- Map of Furthest Airports from BON
- List of Furthest Airports from BON
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Flamingo International Airport (BON), near Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,658 miles (or 5,886 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 Flamingo International 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 Flamingo International 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: | BON / TNCB |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | near Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 12°7'51"N by 68°16'6"W |
| Area Served: | Bonaire |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 20 feet (6 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BON |
| More Information: | BON Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Flamingo International Airport (BON):
- In 1970 the runway was extended to a length of 1750 meters and a width of 30 meters, enough for a DC9 to land and take-off with full load.
- American soldiers arrived on Bonaire in the second half of 1943 and their commander stated that a new airport had to be built.
- Flamingo International Airport handled 462,897 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Flamingo International Airport (BON) is Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport (MLG), which is nearly antipodal to Flamingo International Airport (meaning Flamingo International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport), and is located 12,139 miles (19,535 kilometers) away in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
- Bonaire's first airport was located near Tra'i Montaña Subi Blanku and walked across the current path of Kralendijk to Rincon.
- In addition to being known as "Flamingo International Airport", another name for BON is "Bonaire International Airport".
- Between 2000 and 2003 the airport saw a ongoing grow in passengers and freight but some decline since 2004
- The closest airport to Flamingo International Airport (BON) is Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (CUR), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) W of BON.
- Since May 2008, Bonaire International Airport has started with the renovation of the parking places at Flamingo Airport.
- Because of Flamingo International Airport's relatively low elevation of 20 feet, planes can take off or land at Flamingo International 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.
- Flamingo International Airport (BON) currently has only 1 runway.
