Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(18°10'41"N by 120°31'54"E)
Distance from MER to LAO:
6,916.63 miles (11,131.21 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- LAO Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about LAO
- 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 LAO
- List of Nearest Airports to LAO
- Map of Furthest Airports from LAO
- List of Furthest Airports from LAO
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Laoag International Airport (LAO), Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines would travel a Great Circle distance of 6,917 miles (or 11,131 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 Laoag International 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 Laoag International 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: | LAO / RPLI |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°10'41"N by 120°31'54"E |
| Area Served: | Laoag City |
| Operator/Owner: | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 16 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LAO |
| More Information: | LAO Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Facts about Laoag International Airport (LAO):
- In addition to being known as "Laoag International Airport", another name for LAO is "Paliparang Pandaigdig ng LaoagSangalubong a Pagtayaban ti Laoag".
- The closest airport to Laoag International Airport (LAO) is Tuguegarao Airport (TUG), which is located 87 miles (140 kilometers) ESE of LAO.
- Because of Laoag International Airport's relatively low elevation of 16 feet, planes can take off or land at Laoag International 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.
- Laoag International Airport (LAO) currently has only 1 runway.
- Laoag International Airport handled 177,339 passengers last year.
- The furthest airport from Laoag International Airport (LAO) is Puerto Suárez International Airport (PSZ), which is nearly antipodal to Laoag International Airport (meaning Laoag International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Puerto Suárez International Airport), and is located 12,316 miles (19,820 kilometers) away in Puerto Suárez, Bolivia.
| 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 | 87.20 miles (140.33 km) ESE | Tuguegarao Airport (TUG) | Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines | |
| 2 | 110.37 miles (177.62 km) S | San Fernando Airport (SFE) | San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines | |
| 3 | 117.94 miles (189.80 km) SE | Cauayan Airport (CYZ) | Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines | |
| 4 | 124.71 miles (200.71 km) S | Loakan Airport (BAG) | Baguio City, Philippines | |
| 5 | 180.86 miles (291.07 km) SSE | Dr. Juan C. Angara Airport (BQA) | Baler, Aurora, Philippines | |
| 6 | 183.27 miles (294.95 km) NNE | Basco Airport (BSO) | Basco, Batanes, Philippines | |
| 7 | 206.75 miles (332.73 km) S | Clark International Airport (CRK) | Clark Special Economic Zone, Philippines | |
| 8 | 234.42 miles (377.26 km) S | Subic Bay International Airport (SFS) | Morong, Bataan, Philippines | |
| 9 | 255.59 miles (411.33 km) S | Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) | Metro Manila, Philippines | |
| 10 | 255.86 miles (411.76 km) S | Major Danilo Atienza Air Base (SGL) | Cavite City, Cavite, Philippines | |
| 11 | 267.01 miles (429.71 km) N | Hengchun Airport (HCN) | Hengchun, Taiwan | |
| 12 | 273.83 miles (440.68 km) NNE | Lanyu Airport (KYD) | Orchid Island, Taitung County, Taiwan | |
| 13 | 299.84 miles (482.55 km) S | Lubang Airport (LBX) | Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines | |
| 14 | 304.16 miles (489.50 km) N | Kaohsiung International Airport (Kaohsiung Siaogang Airport) (KHH) | Kaohsiung, Taiwan | |
| 15 | 316.45 miles (509.28 km) N | Lyudao Airport (Green Island Airport) (GNI) | Lyudao (Green Island), Taiwan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,315.64 miles (19,820.05 km) WSW | Puerto Suárez International Airport (PSZ) | Puerto Suárez, Bolivia | |
| 2 | 12,305.78 miles (19,804.18 km) WSW | Corumbá International Airport (CMG) | Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil | |
| 3 | 12,217.10 miles (19,661.46 km) SE | Concepción Airport (CEP) | Concepción, Santa Cruz, Bolivia | |
| 4 | 12,192.92 miles (19,622.56 km) E | Viru Viru International Airport (VVI) | Santa Cruz, Bolivia | |
| 5 | 12,192.15 miles (19,621.31 km) E | El Trompillo Airport (SRZ) | Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia | |
| 6 | 12,159.34 miles (19,568.52 km) SSE | Dr. Luis María Argaña International Airport (ESG) | Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay | |
| 7 | 12,154.73 miles (19,561.09 km) SW | Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) | Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil | |
| 8 | 12,148.01 miles (19,550.28 km) ESE | Ascención de Guarayos Airport (ASC) | Ascención de Guarayos, Bolivia | |
| 9 | 12,143.19 miles (19,542.53 km) ESE | Camiri Airport (CAM) | Camiri, Bolivia | |
| 10 | 12,086.22 miles (19,450.83 km) WSW | Campo Grande International Airport (CGR) | Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil | |
| 11 | 12,060.00 miles (19,408.64 km) SE | Yacuiba Airport (BYC) | Yacuiba, Bolivia | |
| 12 | 12,055.59 miles (19,401.55 km) S | Brigadeiro Camarão Airport (BVH) | Vilhena, Rondônia, Brazil | |
| 13 | 12,051.39 miles (19,394.78 km) E | Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport (SRE) | Sucre, Bolivia | |
| 14 | 12,048.76 miles (19,390.54 km) SW | Dr. Augusto Roberto Fuster International Airport (PJC) | Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay | |
| 15 | 12,048.60 miles (19,390.30 km) SW | Ponta Porã International Airport (PMG) | Ponta Porã, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil | |