Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(3°51'16"S by 32°25'41"W)
Distance from MER to FEN:
6,278.09 miles (10,103.58 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- FEN Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about FEN
- 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 FEN
- List of Nearest Airports to FEN
- Map of Furthest Airports from FEN
- List of Furthest Airports from FEN
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN), Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,278 miles (or 10,104 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 Governador Carlos Wilson 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 Governador Carlos Wilson 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: | FEN / SBFN |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil |
| GPS Coordinates: | 3°51'16"S by 32°25'41"W |
| Area Served: | Fernando de Noronha |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 190 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FEN |
| More Information: | FEN Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN):
- The closest airport to Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) is Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT), which is located 240 miles (387 kilometers) SW of FEN.
- In addition to being known as "Governador Carlos Wilson Airport", another name for FEN is "Aeroporto Governador Carlos Wilson".
- The furthest airport from Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) is Chuuk International Airport (TKK), which is nearly antipodal to Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (meaning Governador Carlos Wilson Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chuuk International Airport), and is located 12,052 miles (19,395 kilometers) away in Weno, Federated States of Micronesia.
- The airport is located 4 km from Vila dos Remédios, the administrative center of the island.
- In 1975 another extension of the runway was made, allowing the operations of aircraft up to the class of a Boeing 737.
- Because of Governador Carlos Wilson Airport's relatively low elevation of 190 feet, planes can take off or land at Governador Carlos Wilson 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.
- Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 240.50 miles (387.05 km) SW | Augusto Severo International Airport (NAT) | Natal, Brazil | |
| 2 | 285.91 miles (460.12 km) SW | Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport (JPA) | João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 3 | 335.37 miles (539.72 km) SW | Presidente João Suassuna Airport (CPV) | Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil | |
| 4 | 341.29 miles (549.25 km) SSW | Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) | Recife, Brazil | |
| 5 | 352.20 miles (566.81 km) WSW | Gov. Dix-Sept Rosado Airport (MVF) | Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| 6 | 420.84 miles (677.27 km) W | Pinto Martins – Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) | Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil | |
| 7 | 453.92 miles (730.51 km) SSW | Maceió/Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport (MCZ) | Maceió, Brazil | |
| 8 | 586.41 miles (943.73 km) SSW | Aracaju–Santa Maria Airport (AJU) | Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil | |
| 9 | 644.97 miles (1,037.98 km) W | Parnaíba–Prefeito Dr. João Silva Filho International Airport (PHB) | Parnaiba, Piaui, Brazil | |
| 10 | 677.60 miles (1,090.49 km) SW | Petrolina–Senador Nilo Coelho Airport (PNZ) | Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 11 | 719.82 miles (1,158.44 km) W | Barreirinhas Airport (BRB) | Barreirinhas, Maranhão, Brazil | |
| 12 | 720.94 miles (1,160.24 km) W | Teresina–Senador Petrônio Portella Airport (THE) | Teresina, Piauí, Brazil | |
| 13 | 743.84 miles (1,197.09 km) SSW | Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (2 de Julho) (SSA) | Salvador, Bahia, Brazil | |
| 14 | 819.23 miles (1,318.41 km) W | Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (Tirirical) (SLZ) | São Luís, Brazil | |
| 15 | 848.88 miles (1,366.14 km) SW | Coronel Horácio de Mattos Airport (LEC) | Lençõis, Bahia, Brazil | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,051.65 miles (19,395.20 km) NW | Chuuk International Airport (TKK) | Weno, Federated States of Micronesia | |
| 2 | 12,027.87 miles (19,356.93 km) N | Momote Airport (MAS) | Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 12,022.35 miles (19,348.05 km) NNW | Emirau Airport (EMI) | Emirau, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 11,939.25 miles (19,214.32 km) NNW | Kavieng Airport (KVG) | Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 11,846.05 miles (19,064.32 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 11,833.76 miles (19,044.55 km) NE | Tadji Airport (TAJ) | Aitape, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 11,817.81 miles (19,018.87 km) NNW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 11,798.55 miles (18,987.89 km) S | Madang Airport (MAG) | Madang, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 11,790.53 miles (18,974.98 km) S | Cape Gloucester Airport (CGC) | Cape Gloucester, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 11,785.00 miles (18,966.08 km) SSE | Aiome Airport (AIE) | Aiome, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 11,780.47 miles (18,958.79 km) SSW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 11,777.37 miles (18,953.79 km) NE | Sentani Airport (SNA) (DJJ) | Jayapura, Indonesia | |
| 13 | 11,777.09 miles (18,953.34 km) SSE | Sangapi Airport (SGK) | Sangapi, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 11,764.02 miles (18,932.32 km) SSW | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 11,754.10 miles (18,916.34 km) NE | Falalop Airfield (ULI) | Falalop Island, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia | |