Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Gush Katif, Israel:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(31°22'2"N by 34°17'40"E)
Distance from MER to GHK:
7,417.19 miles (11,936.78 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- GHK Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about GHK
- 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 GHK
- List of Nearest Airports to GHK
- Map of Furthest Airports from GHK
- List of Furthest Airports from GHK
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport (GHK), Gush Katif, Israel would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,417 miles (or 11,937 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 Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif 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 Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif 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: | GHK / LLAZ |
| Airport Name: | Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport |
| Location: | Gush Katif, Israel |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°22'2"N by 34°17'40"E |
| Area Served: | Gaza Strip |
| Operator/Owner: | Palestinian National Authority |
| Elevation: | 107 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GHK |
| More Information: | GHK Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
Facts about Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport (GHK):
- Because of Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport's relatively low elevation of 107 feet, planes can take off or land at Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif 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 Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport (GHK) is Yasser Arafat International Airport (CLOSED) (GZA), which is located only 8 miles (14 kilometers) S of GHK.
- The furthest airport from Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport (GHK) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,728 miles (18,874 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
- Following the destruction of the runway of Gaza Airport in 2002, Gaza Airstrip is the only remaining runway in the Gaza Strip.
- After the 1948 Palestinian exodus 35,000 refugees took shelter in a camp to the south of the present day airfield.
- Gaza Airstrip/Gush Katif Airport (GHK) 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 | 8.44 miles (13.58 km) S | Yasser Arafat International Airport (CLOSED) (GZA) | Gaza, Palestine | |
| 2 | 25.87 miles (41.63 km) ESE | Be'er Sheva Airport (BEV) | Beersheba, Israel | |
| 3 | 33.89 miles (54.54 km) SW | El Arish International Airport (AAC) | El Arish, Egypt | |
| 4 | 56.24 miles (90.50 km) NE | Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) | Lod (near Tel Aviv), Israel | |
| 5 | 57.98 miles (93.31 km) SSE | Mitzpe Ramon Airport (MIP) | Mitzpe Ramon, Israel | |
| 6 | 58.73 miles (94.51 km) NNE | Sde Dov Airport (SDV) | Tel Aviv, Israel | |
| 7 | 64.33 miles (103.53 km) ENE | Atarot Airport (JRS) | Jerusalem, Israel | |
| 8 | 64.60 miles (103.97 km) E | Bar Yehuda Airfield (MTZ) | Masada, Israel | |
| 9 | 74.51 miles (119.91 km) SE | Ein Yahav Airfield (EIY) | Ein Yahav, Israel | |
| 10 | 102.98 miles (165.73 km) ENE | Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) | Amman, Jordan | |
| 11 | 105.72 miles (170.14 km) SSE | Ovda Airport (VDA) | Ovda, Israel | |
| 12 | 108.17 miles (174.09 km) ENE | Amman Civil Airport (ADJ) | Amman, Jordan | |
| 13 | 108.83 miles (175.15 km) NNE | Haifa Airport (HFA) | Haifa, Israel | |
| 14 | 111.25 miles (179.03 km) SSE | Yotvata Airfield (YOT) | Yotvata, Israel | |
| 15 | 126.29 miles (203.24 km) SSE | Taba International Airport (TCP) | Taba, Egypt | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,728.01 miles (18,874.36 km) SSE | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,581.58 miles (18,638.70 km) SSW | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 11,560.57 miles (18,604.88 km) SW | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,497.01 miles (18,502.59 km) SSW | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,471.35 miles (18,461.30 km) SSW | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,468.13 miles (18,456.12 km) S | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,451.69 miles (18,429.66 km) SSE | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,444.80 miles (18,418.57 km) SSE | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,440.07 miles (18,410.96 km) SE | Mangaia Island Airport (MGS) | Mangaia Island, Cook Islands | |
| 10 | 11,407.53 miles (18,358.60 km) S | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,383.07 miles (18,319.24 km) SSW | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,378.75 miles (18,312.27 km) S | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,376.80 miles (18,309.14 km) SE | Akatoka Manava Airport (Mauke Airport) (MUK) | Mauke Island, Cook Islands | |
| 14 | 11,368.91 miles (18,296.44 km) SSE | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,358.91 miles (18,280.35 km) SSW | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |