Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Apia, Samoa:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(13°50'53"S by 171°44'30"W)
Distance from MER to FGI:
4,851.76 miles (7,808.13 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- FGI Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about FGI
- 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 FGI
- List of Nearest Airports to FGI
- Map of Furthest Airports from FGI
- List of Furthest Airports from FGI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Fagali'i Airport (FGI), Apia, Samoa would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,852 miles (or 7,808 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 Fagali'i 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 Fagali'i 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: | FGI / NSFI |
| Airport Name: | Fagali'i Airport |
| Location: | Apia, Samoa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 13°50'53"S by 171°44'30"W |
| Area Served: | Apia |
| Operator/Owner: | Samoa Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FGI |
| More Information: | FGI 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.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- 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.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Fagali'i Airport (FGI):
- The closest airport to Fagali'i Airport (FGI) is Faleolo International Airport (APW), which is located only 18 miles (29 kilometers) W of FGI.
- The furthest airport from Fagali'i Airport (FGI) is Zinder Airport (ZND), which is nearly antipodal to Fagali'i Airport (meaning Fagali'i Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Zinder Airport), and is located 12,388 miles (19,936 kilometers) away in Zinder, Niger.
- Rumours have since re-surfaced within the aviation community regarding the possibility of having the airstrip re-opened as the country's flag carrier has since downsized to 2 Turboprop DHC 6 Twin Otter aircraft and single BN2 Britten-Norman Islander.
- Fagali'i Airport was previously owned and operated by Polynesian Airlines and the Samoa Government.
- Fagali'i Airport (FGI) 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 | 17.94 miles (28.86 km) W | Faleolo International Airport (APW) | Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa | |
| 2 | 35.43 miles (57.03 km) WNW | Maota (Salelologa) Airport (MXS) | Maota, Samoa | |
| 3 | 64.04 miles (103.07 km) WNW | Asau Airport (AAU) | Asau, Samoa | |
| 4 | 75.87 miles (122.10 km) ESE | Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) | Pago Pago, American Samoa | |
| 5 | 140.80 miles (226.60 km) E | Ofu Airport (OFU) | Ofu, American Samoa | |
| 6 | 151.81 miles (244.31 km) E | Tau Airport (TAV) | Tau, American Samoa | |
| 7 | 157.45 miles (253.38 km) E | Fitiuta Airport (FTI) | Fiti‘uta, American Samoa, United States | |
| 8 | 285.85 miles (460.04 km) WSW | Mata'aho Airport (NFO) | Niuafo'ou, Tonga | |
| 9 | 302.13 miles (486.24 km) W | Wallis Island (WLS) | Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 10 | 380.96 miles (613.10 km) SSE | Niue International Airport (IUE) | Alofi, Niue | |
| 11 | 425.04 miles (684.03 km) W | Aéroport de Futuna - Pointe-Vele Pointe Vele Airport (FUT) | Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna Islands | |
| 12 | 444.19 miles (714.85 km) SSW | Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) | Lifuka, Ha'apai, Tonga | |
| 13 | 557.87 miles (897.80 km) SSW | Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) | Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu, Tonga | |
| 14 | 572.36 miles (921.12 km) WSW | Cicia Airport (ICI) | Cicia, Fiji | |
| 15 | 621.58 miles (1,000.34 km) WSW | Labasa Airport (LBS) | Labasa, Fiji | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,387.88 miles (19,936.31 km) W | Zinder Airport (ZND) | Zinder, Niger | |
| 2 | 12,356.11 miles (19,885.18 km) ENE | Maradi Airport (MFQ) | Maradi, Niger | |
| 3 | 12,311.09 miles (19,812.73 km) N | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN) | Kano, Nigeria | |
| 4 | 12,245.05 miles (19,706.44 km) NNE | Zaria Airport (ZAR) | Zaria, Nigeria | |
| 5 | 12,224.18 miles (19,672.86 km) ENE | Tahoua Airport (THZ) | Tahoua, Niger | |
| 6 | 12,220.70 miles (19,667.27 km) N | Mano Dayak International Airport (AJY) | Agadez, Niger | |
| 7 | 12,209.96 miles (19,649.97 km) NNE | Kaduna Airport (KAD) | Kaduna, Nigeria | |
| 8 | 12,143.09 miles (19,542.37 km) N | Yakubu Gowon Airport (JOS) | Jos, Nigeria | |
| 9 | 12,122.44 miles (19,509.13 km) NNE | Minna Airport (MXJ) | Minna, Nigeria | |
| 10 | 12,095.56 miles (19,465.88 km) NNE | Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV) | Abuja, Nigeria | |
| 11 | 12,090.28 miles (19,457.38 km) N | Arlit Airport (RLT) | Arlit, Niger | |
| 12 | 12,083.98 miles (19,447.24 km) WNW | Maiduguri International Airport (MIU) | Maiduguri, Nigeria | |
| 13 | 12,032.40 miles (19,364.22 km) ENE | Kandi Airport (KDC) | Kandi, Benin | |
| 14 | 12,027.29 miles (19,356.00 km) E | Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM) | Niamey, Niger | |
| 15 | 12,012.16 miles (19,331.64 km) NW | Yola Airport (YOL) | Yola, Nigeria | |