Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Newport News, Virginia, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from MER to PHF:
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- PHF Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about PHF
- 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 PHF
- List of Nearest Airports to PHF
- Map of Furthest Airports from PHF
- List of Furthest Airports from PHF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF), Newport News, Virginia, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,401 miles (or 3,864 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 relatively short distance between Castle Airport and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | PHF / KPHF |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | Newport News, Virginia, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°7'54"N by 76°29'35"W |
| Area Served: | Virginia Peninsula |
| Operator/Owner: | The Peninsula Airport Commission |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 43 feet (13 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PHF |
| More Information: | PHF Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- 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.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF):
- The closest airport to Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) is Langley Field (LFI), which is located only 8 miles (13 kilometers) ESE of PHF.
- Because of Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport's relatively low elevation of 43 feet, planes can take off or land at Newport News/Williamsburg 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.
- The airport is served by various taxi companies, including Orange, American, Yellow, Best, and All City.
- In light of substantial growth, the airport launched an expansion effort in the early 21st century.
- Frontier Airlines began nonstop service from Newport News in 2010 as the airport was finishing a $23 million renovation.
- The furthest airport from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,749 miles (18,908 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- In addition to being known as "Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport", another name for PHF is "Patrick Henry Field".
- In 1946, Virginia's General Assembly passed legislation creating the Peninsula Airport Commission to determine a location for and establish a new commercial airport to serve the cities of Newport News, Hampton, and Warwick.
- Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) has 2 runways.
- In 1951, the original passenger terminal was damaged by a fire.
- Until the 1990s, part of the original terminal building was named Flight Services Building, and home to the National Weather Service.
