Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Balgo Hill, Western Australia, Australia:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(20°8'53"S by 127°58'23"E)
Distance from MER to BQW:
8,209.51 miles (13,211.90 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BQW Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BQW
- 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 BQW
- List of Nearest Airports to BQW
- Map of Furthest Airports from BQW
- List of Furthest Airports from BQW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Balgo Hill Airport (BQW), Balgo Hill, Western Australia, Australia would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,210 miles (or 13,212 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 Balgo Hill 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 Balgo Hill 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: | BQW / YBGO |
| Airport Name: | Balgo Hill Airport |
| Location: | Balgo Hill, Western Australia, Australia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 20°8'53"S by 127°58'23"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Wirrimanu Aboriginal Community |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1440 feet (439 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BQW |
| More Information: | BQW 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.
- 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 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.
- 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 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.
Facts about Balgo Hill Airport (BQW):
- Balgo Hill Airport (BQW) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Balgo Hill Airport (BQW) is Lake Gregory Airport (LGE), which is located 23 miles (37 kilometers) W of BQW.
- The furthest airport from Balgo Hill Airport (BQW) is Barbuda Codrington Airport (BBQ), which is located 11,773 miles (18,947 kilometers) away in Codrington, Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda.
| 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 | 23.17 miles (37.29 km) W | Lake Gregory Airport (LGE) | Lake Gregory, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 133.75 miles (215.25 km) N | Halls Creek Airport (HCQ) | Halls Creek, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 164.36 miles (264.50 km) N | Springvale Airport (ZVG) | Springvale, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 208.07 miles (334.85 km) NW | Fitzroy Crossing Airport (FIZ) | Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 244.63 miles (393.69 km) N | Argyle Airport (GYL) | Argyle, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 263.81 miles (424.57 km) NE | Kalkgurung Airport (KFG) | Daguragu / Kalkaringi, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 7 | 267.34 miles (430.24 km) N | Argyle Downs Airport (AGY) | Argyle Downs, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 305.79 miles (492.11 km) N | East Kimberley Regional Airport (KNX) | Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 341.23 miles (549.15 km) WNW | Derby Airport (DRB) | Derby, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 397.19 miles (639.21 km) SSE | Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ) | Yulara, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 11 | 404.78 miles (651.43 km) WNW | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 420.36 miles (676.50 km) NNE | Port Keats Airfield (PKT) | Wadeye, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 13 | 456.20 miles (734.18 km) SE | Alice Springs Airport (ASP) | Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| 14 | 495.23 miles (796.99 km) ESE | Cowra Airport (CWT) | Cowra, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 15 | 567.91 miles (913.97 km) NNE | Darwin International Airport (DRW) | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,773.19 miles (18,947.06 km) ENE | Barbuda Codrington Airport (BBQ) | Codrington, Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 2 | 11,764.57 miles (18,933.20 km) ENE | V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) | St. John's, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 3 | 11,758.23 miles (18,922.99 km) ENE | Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet Airport (PTP) | Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe | |
| 4 | 11,749.26 miles (18,908.56 km) ENE | Melville Hall Airport (DOM) | Melville Hall (near Roseau), Dominica | |
| 5 | 11,742.98 miles (18,898.44 km) ENE | Les Saintes Airport (LSS) | Terre-de-Haut Island, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe | |
| 6 | 11,741.97 miles (18,896.82 km) NE | Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) | Bridgetown, Barbados | |
| 7 | 11,736.80 miles (18,888.50 km) ENE | Canefield Airport (DCF) | Canefield, Dominica | |
| 8 | 11,731.95 miles (18,880.70 km) ENE | Aimé Césaire Airport (FDF) | Le Lamentin / Fort de France, Martinique | |
| 9 | 11,731.52 miles (18,880.00 km) ENE | John A. Osborne Airport (MNI) | Montserrat, British Overseas Territories, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 11,716.30 miles (18,855.50 km) ENE | Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV) | Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| 11 | 11,713.59 miles (18,851.15 km) E | Gustaf III Airport Saint Barthélemy Airport St. Jean Airport (SBH) | Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Barthélemy | |
| 12 | 11,710.43 miles (18,846.07 km) ENE | Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| 13 | 11,709.16 miles (18,844.02 km) NE | George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) | Castries, Saint Lucia | |
| 14 | 11,704.84 miles (18,837.07 km) E | Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) | The Valley, Anguilla | |
| 15 | 11,703.66 miles (18,835.16 km) E | L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) | Saint Martin, Guadeloupe | |