Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Soalala, Madagascar:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(16°4'58"S by 45°22'1"E)
Distance from MER to DWB:
10,733.12 miles (17,273.24 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- DWB Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about DWB
- 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 DWB
- List of Nearest Airports to DWB
- Map of Furthest Airports from DWB
- List of Furthest Airports from DWB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Soalala Airport (DWB), Soalala, Madagascar would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,733 miles (or 17,273 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 Soalala 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 Soalala 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: | DWB / FMNO |
| Airport Name: | Soalala Airport |
| Location: | Soalala, Madagascar |
| GPS Coordinates: | 16°4'58"S by 45°22'1"E |
| Elevation: | 0 feet (0 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from DWB |
| More Information: | DWB Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- 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.
- 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 (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Soalala Airport (DWB):
- The furthest airport from Soalala Airport (DWB) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,072 miles (17,819 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Soalala Airport (DWB) is Amborovy Airport (MJN), which is located 71 miles (115 kilometers) ENE of DWB.
- Because of Soalala Airport's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Soalala 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 | 71.47 miles (115.03 km) ENE | Amborovy Airport (MJN) | Mahajanga, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 74.24 miles (119.47 km) SW | Besalampy Airport (BPY) | Besalampy, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 112.08 miles (180.38 km) S | Ambatomainty Airport (AMY) | Ambatomainty, Madagascar | |
| 4 | 133.29 miles (214.52 km) SW | Tambohorano Airport (WTA) | Tambohorano, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 153.50 miles (247.03 km) ENE | Port Bergé Airport (WPB) | Port Bergé, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 156.08 miles (251.18 km) ESE | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |
| 7 | 162.03 miles (260.76 km) SSW | Maintirano Airport (MXT) | Maintirano, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 187.81 miles (302.25 km) S | Ankavandra Airport (JVA) | Ankavandra, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 188.63 miles (303.57 km) ENE | Analalava Airport (HVA) | Analalava, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 190.63 miles (306.78 km) SSE | Tsiroanomandidy Airport (WTS) | Tsiroanomandidy, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 226.58 miles (364.64 km) N | Dzaoudzi Pamandzi International Airport (DZA) | Dzaoudzi, Mayotte | |
| 12 | 230.99 miles (371.74 km) E | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 233.53 miles (375.83 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 240.49 miles (387.03 km) S | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 254.83 miles (410.11 km) SSW | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,072.16 miles (17,818.87 km) ENE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,029.70 miles (17,750.54 km) ENE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,027.99 miles (17,747.79 km) ENE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,014.85 miles (17,726.63 km) ENE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,007.63 miles (17,715.03 km) ENE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 10,999.32 miles (17,701.65 km) ENE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 10,971.65 miles (17,657.11 km) ENE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 10,955.48 miles (17,631.09 km) ENE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 10,939.68 miles (17,605.66 km) ENE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 10,933.51 miles (17,595.73 km) ENE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 10,926.39 miles (17,584.28 km) ENE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 10,894.44 miles (17,532.86 km) NNW | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 13 | 10,884.21 miles (17,516.39 km) NW | Guerrero Negro Airport (GUB) | Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 14 | 10,881.73 miles (17,512.41 km) NNW | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 15 | 10,881.58 miles (17,512.16 km) NNW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States | |