Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Chipata, Zambia:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MER to CIP:
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- CIP Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about CIP
- 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 CIP
- List of Nearest Airports to CIP
- Map of Furthest Airports from CIP
- List of Furthest Airports from CIP
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Chipata Airport (CIP), Chipata, Zambia would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,105 miles (or 16,263 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 Chipata 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 Chipata 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: | CIP / FLCP |
Airport Names: |
|
Location: | Chipata, Zambia |
GPS Coordinates: | 13°33'24"S by 32°35'12"E |
Airport Type: | Military/Civilian |
Elevation: | 3359 feet (1,024 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from CIP |
More Information: | CIP Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- EPA investigations have been completed at multiple areas of contamination including landfills, discharge areas, chemical disposal areas, fire training areas, fuel spill areas, and polychlorinated biphenyl spill areas.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
Facts about Chipata Airport (CIP):
- The furthest airport from Chipata Airport (CIP) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,776 miles (18,952 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Chipata Airport (CIP) is Mfuwe Airport (MFU), which is located 48 miles (78 kilometers) WNW of CIP.
- In addition to being known as "Chipata Airport", another name for CIP is "ZSE".
- Chipata Airport (CIP) currently has only 1 runway.