Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Jerusalem, Israel:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Atarot Airport (JRS), Jerusalem, Israel would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,404 miles (or 11,915 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 Atarot 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 Atarot Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Facts about Atarot Airport (JRS):

• The closest airport to Atarot Airport (JRS) is Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), which is located 22 miles (36 kilometers) WNW of JRS.
• Atarot Airport (JRS) currently has only 1 runway.
• In the 1970s and early 1980s, Israel invested considerable resources in upgrading the airport and creating the infrastructure for a full-fledged international airport but the international aviation authorities bowed to Arab political pressure and would not allow international flights to land there.
• The airport is sometimes shown with two different ICAO codes.
• In maps presented by Israel at the Camp David talks in the summer of 2000, Atarot was included in the Israeli built-up area of Jerusalem.
• The furthest airport from Atarot Airport (JRS) is Rurutu Airport (RUR), which is located 11,670 miles (18,781 kilometers) away in Rurutu, French Polynesia.
• In addition to being known as "Atarot Airport", other names for JRS include "Jerusalem International Airport (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)", "נמל התעופה ירושלים" and "LLJR, OJJR".