Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Willemstad, Curaçao, Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MER to CUR:
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- CUR Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about CUR
- 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 CUR
- List of Nearest Airports to CUR
- Map of Furthest Airports from CUR
- List of Furthest Airports from CUR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (CUR), Willemstad, Curaçao, Kingdom of the Netherlands would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,619 miles (or 5,823 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 Hato International Airport Curaçao 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 Hato International Airport Curaçao 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: | CUR / TNCC |
Airport Name: | Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport |
Location: | Willemstad, Curaçao, Kingdom of the Netherlands |
GPS Coordinates: | 12°11'20"N by 68°57'34"W |
Area Served: | Curaçao |
Operator/Owner: | Curaçao Airport Holding |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 29 feet (9 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from CUR |
More Information: | CUR 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (CUR):
- The west end of the airport is a USAF Forward Operating Base.
- Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (CUR) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport's relatively low elevation of 29 feet, planes can take off or land at Hato International Airport Curaçao 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.
- During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Sixth Air Force conducting antisubmarine patrols.
- The closest airport to Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (CUR) is Flamingo International Airport (BON), which is located 47 miles (75 kilometers) E of CUR.
- The furthest airport from Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (CUR) is Adisucipto International Airport (JOG), which is nearly antipodal to Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport (meaning Hato International Airport Curaçao International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Adisucipto International Airport), and is located 12,130 miles (19,521 kilometers) away in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.