Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(2°49'5"N by 24°47'36"E)
Distance from MER to BZU:
8,881.64 miles (14,293.58 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- BZU Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about BZU
- 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 BZU
- List of Nearest Airports to BZU
- Map of Furthest Airports from BZU
- List of Furthest Airports from BZU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Buta Zega Airport (BZU), Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,882 miles (or 14,294 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 Buta Zega 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 Buta Zega 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: | BZU / FZKJ |
| Airport Name: | Buta Zega Airport |
| Location: | Buta Zega, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| GPS Coordinates: | 2°49'5"N by 24°47'36"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1378 feet (420 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BZU |
| More Information: | BZU Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.
- 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.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
Facts about Buta Zega Airport (BZU):
- Buta Zega Airport (BZU) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Buta Zega Airport (BZU) is Yangambi Airport (YAN), which is located 141 miles (228 kilometers) S of BZU.
- The furthest airport from Buta Zega Airport (BZU) is Cassidy International Airport (CXI), which is nearly antipodal to Buta Zega Airport (meaning Buta Zega Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Cassidy International Airport), and is located 12,073 miles (19,430 kilometers) away in Christmas Island, Kiribati.
| 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 | 141.46 miles (227.65 km) S | Yangambi Airport (YAN) | Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 2 | 152.35 miles (245.18 km) N | Zemio Airport (IMO) | Zemio, Central African Republic | |
| 3 | 165.77 miles (266.78 km) SSE | Bangoka International Airport (FKI) | Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 4 | 190.62 miles (306.78 km) NNE | M'Boki Airport (MKI) | Obo, Central African Republic | |
| 5 | 192.86 miles (310.38 km) E | Matari Airport (IRP) | Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 6 | 194.16 miles (312.46 km) NW | Bangassou Airport (BGU) | Bangassou, Central African Republic | |
| 7 | 231.94 miles (373.27 km) W | Lisala Airport (LIQ) | Lisala, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 8 | 241.53 miles (388.70 km) NW | Bakouma Airport (BMF) | Bakouma, Central African Republic | |
| 9 | 276.77 miles (445.42 km) NNW | Yalinga Airport (AIG) | Yalinga, Central African Republic | |
| 10 | 281.36 miles (452.80 km) WNW | Gbadolite Airport (BDT) | Gbadolite, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 11 | 296.60 miles (477.33 km) SSW | Ikela Airport (IKL) | Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 12 | 320.97 miles (516.54 km) NW | Bria Airport (BIV) | Bria, Central African Republic | |
| 13 | 344.77 miles (554.86 km) SW | Boende Airport (BNB) | Boende, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 14 | 353.96 miles (569.64 km) NW | Bambari Airport (BBY) | Bambari, Central African Republic | |
| 15 | 358.46 miles (576.88 km) ESE | Beni Airport (BNC) | Beni, Nord-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,073.33 miles (19,430.09 km) SSE | Cassidy International Airport (CXI) | Christmas Island, Kiribati | |
| 2 | 11,780.39 miles (18,958.65 km) SE | Manihiki Island Airport (MHX) | Manihiki Island, Cook Islands | |
| 3 | 11,493.81 miles (18,497.45 km) SSW | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,475.26 miles (18,467.59 km) SSW | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,466.57 miles (18,453.62 km) SSW | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,437.30 miles (18,406.50 km) SSW | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,428.92 miles (18,393.01 km) SW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,420.68 miles (18,379.75 km) SW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,397.97 miles (18,343.22 km) SSW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,371.63 miles (18,300.82 km) SSW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,358.00 miles (18,278.88 km) SSW | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,350.12 miles (18,266.21 km) SSW | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,315.24 miles (18,210.07 km) SW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,298.19 miles (18,182.64 km) E | Canton Island Airport (CIS) | Canton Island, Kiribati | |
| 15 | 11,248.53 miles (18,102.71 km) S | Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) | Mitiaro Island, Cook Islands | |