Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Boulia, Queensland, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(22°54'47"S by 139°53'58"E)
Distance from MER to BQL:
7,666.01 miles (12,337.21 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BQL Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BQL
- 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 BQL
- List of Nearest Airports to BQL
- Map of Furthest Airports from BQL
- List of Furthest Airports from BQL
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Boulia Airport (BQL), Boulia, Queensland, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,666 miles (or 12,337 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 Boulia 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 Boulia 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: | BQL / YBOU |
| Airport Name: | Boulia Airport |
| Location: | Boulia, Queensland, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 22°54'47"S by 139°53'58"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Boulia Shire Council |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 542 feet (165 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BQL |
| More Information: | BQL Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- 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.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
Facts about Boulia Airport (BQL):
- The furthest airport from Boulia Airport (BQL) is Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO), which is located 11,387 miles (18,325 kilometers) away in Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde.
- Boulia Airport (BQL) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Boulia Airport (BQL) is Springvale Airport (KSV), which is located 67 miles (108 kilometers) SE of BQL.
- Because of Boulia Airport's relatively low elevation of 542 feet, planes can take off or land at Boulia 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.
| 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 | 67.06 miles (107.92 km) SE | Springvale Airport (KSV) | Springvale, Queensland, Australia | |
| 2 | 97.66 miles (157.18 km) NE | Trepell Airport (TQP) | Trapell, Queensland, Australia | |
| 3 | 102.83 miles (165.49 km) SSW | Bedourie Airport (BEU) | Bedourie, Queensland, Australia | |
| 4 | 151.48 miles (243.78 km) NNE | Elrose Mine Airport (ERQ) | Eloise Copper Mine, Queensland, Australia | |
| 5 | 157.64 miles (253.70 km) N | Mount Isa Airport (ISA) | Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia | |
| 6 | 159.87 miles (257.29 km) NNE | Cloncurry Airport (CNJ) | Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia | |
| 7 | 194.25 miles (312.62 km) NE | Julia Creek Airport (JCK) | Julia Creek, Queensland, Australia | |
| 8 | 209.09 miles (336.50 km) S | Birdsville Airport (BVI) | Birdsville, Queensland, Australia | |
| 9 | 236.73 miles (380.98 km) NNW | Camooweal Airport (CML) | Camooweal, Queensland, Australia | |
| 10 | 256.65 miles (413.04 km) NE | Richmond Airport (RCM) | Richmond, Queensland, Australia | |
| 11 | 270.67 miles (435.60 km) SSE | Arrabury Airport (AAB) | Arrabury, Queensland, Australia | |
| 12 | 280.55 miles (451.50 km) E | Longreach Airport (LRE) | Longreach, Queensland, Australia | |
| 13 | 312.93 miles (503.61 km) ENE | Hughenden Airport (HGD) | Hughenden, Queensland, Australia | |
| 14 | 332.70 miles (535.43 km) SSE | Ballera Airport (BBL) | Ballera, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 339.90 miles (547.02 km) E | Aramac Airport (AXC) | Aramac, Queensland, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,386.62 miles (18,324.94 km) WNW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,373.74 miles (18,304.21 km) WNW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,320.29 miles (18,218.19 km) WNW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,276.00 miles (18,146.91 km) WNW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,273.65 miles (18,143.13 km) WNW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,244.36 miles (18,095.99 km) WNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,223.45 miles (18,062.34 km) WNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,220.51 miles (18,057.62 km) WNW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,211.92 miles (18,043.80 km) WNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,178.44 miles (17,989.91 km) NNW | Flores Airport (FLW) | Flores Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 11 | 11,166.45 miles (17,970.62 km) NNW | Horta International Airport (HOR) | Horta, Azores, Portugal | |
| 12 | 11,164.89 miles (17,968.11 km) NNW | Corvo Airport (CVU) | Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 13 | 11,155.88 miles (17,953.61 km) NNW | Pico Airport (PIX) | Pico Island, Azores, Portugal | |
| 14 | 11,120.16 miles (17,896.12 km) NW | Santa Maria Airport (SMA) | Santa Maria, Portugal | |
| 15 | 11,112.74 miles (17,884.18 km) NNW | Graciosa Airport (GRW) | Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal | |