Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°49'37"N by 93°27'25"W)
Distance from MER to FCM:
1,493.84 miles (2,404.09 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- FCM Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about FCM
- 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 FCM
- List of Nearest Airports to FCM
- Map of Furthest Airports from FCM
- List of Furthest Airports from FCM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Flying Cloud Airport (FCM), Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,494 miles (or 2,404 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 relatively short distance between Castle Airport and Flying Cloud Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | FCM / KFCM |
| Airport Name: | Flying Cloud Airport |
| Location: | Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°49'37"N by 93°27'25"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Metropolitan Airports Commission |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 906 feet (276 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FCM |
| More Information: | FCM Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- 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 serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Flying Cloud Airport (FCM):
- Because of Flying Cloud Airport's relatively low elevation of 906 feet, planes can take off or land at Flying Cloud 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 closest airport to Flying Cloud Airport (FCM) is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport Wold–Chamberlain Airport (MSP), which is located only 12 miles (20 kilometers) ENE of FCM.
- The furthest airport from Flying Cloud Airport (FCM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,748 miles (17,297 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Flying Cloud Airport (FCM) has 3 runways.
| 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 | 12.14 miles (19.54 km) ENE | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport Wold–Chamberlain Airport (MSP) | Bloomington, Minnesota, United States | |
| 2 | 16.99 miles (27.34 km) NNE | Crystal Airport (MIC) | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| 3 | 20.81 miles (33.49 km) ENE | St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP) | St. Paul, Minnesota, United States | |
| 4 | 32.56 miles (52.39 km) SE | Stanton Airfield (SYN) | Stanton, Minnesota, United States | |
| 5 | 47.61 miles (76.63 km) SSW | Mankato Regional Airport (MKT) | Mankato, Minnesota, United States | |
| 6 | 50.03 miles (80.52 km) ENE | New Richmond Regional Airport (RNH) | New Richmond, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 7 | 50.12 miles (80.66 km) NE | L.O. Simenstad Municipal Airport (OEO) | Osceola, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 8 | 57.73 miles (92.90 km) NNW | St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC) | St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States | |
| 9 | 61.42 miles (98.84 km) ENE | Amery Municipal Airport (AHH) | Amery, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 10 | 62.26 miles (100.20 km) SW | New Ulm Municipal Airport (ULM) | New Ulm, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 77.35 miles (124.48 km) NNE | Grantsburg Municipal Airport (GTG) | Grantsburg, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 12 | 79.16 miles (127.39 km) SE | Rochester International Airport (RST) | Rochester, Minnesota, United States | |
| 13 | 79.31 miles (127.64 km) S | Albert Lea Municipal Airport (AEL) | Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States | |
| 14 | 84.22 miles (135.54 km) WNW | Willmar Municipal Airport (ILL) | Willmar, Minnesota, United States | |
| 15 | 84.56 miles (136.08 km) SSE | Austin Municipal Airport (AUM) | Austin, Minnesota, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,747.97 miles (17,297.13 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,724.22 miles (17,258.91 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,711.98 miles (17,239.21 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,698.84 miles (17,218.08 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,657.86 miles (17,152.13 km) WSW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,648.38 miles (17,136.86 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,636.45 miles (17,117.67 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,625.82 miles (17,100.56 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,618.19 miles (17,088.28 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,595.58 miles (17,051.89 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,541.09 miles (16,964.20 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,507.27 miles (16,909.77 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,501.69 miles (16,900.80 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,490.08 miles (16,882.11 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,445.87 miles (16,810.96 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |