Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Ponce, Puerto Rico:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(18°0'29"N by 66°33'47"W)
Distance from MER to PSE:
3,511.00 miles (5,650.39 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- PSE Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about PSE
- 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 PSE
- List of Nearest Airports to PSE
- Map of Furthest Airports from PSE
- List of Furthest Airports from PSE
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Mercedita Airport (PSE), Ponce, Puerto Rico would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,511 miles (or 5,650 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 Mercedita 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 Mercedita 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: | PSE / TJPS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°0'29"N by 66°33'47"W |
| Area Served: | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Operator/Owner: | Puerto Rico Ports Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 29 feet (9 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PSE |
| More Information: | PSE Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.
- 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.
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Mercedita Airport (PSE):
- Because of Mercedita Airport's relatively low elevation of 29 feet, planes can take off or land at Mercedita 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 furthest airport from Mercedita Airport (PSE) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Mercedita Airport (meaning Mercedita Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,201 miles (19,636 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
- Mercedita Airport (PSE) currently has only 1 runway.
- On June 24, 1972, Prinair Flight 191, which took off from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed while attempting to land at Mercedita Airport.
- In 1949, however, it was determined that the runway of the Ponce Airport at the nearby Losey Field no longer met the newer and more stringent minimum airport safety requirements, and airport operations were suspended.
- After Ponce's mayor Rafael Cordero signed a contract to build a major seaport in the area, Mercedita's directors decided to expand the airport's runway to 8,000 ft to accommodate anticipated growth in airline traffic.
- The closest airport to Mercedita Airport (PSE) is Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport (ARE), which is located 31 miles (51 kilometers) NNW of PSE.
- In addition to being known as "Mercedita Airport", other names for PSE include "Aeropuerto Mercedita" and "18.00'30"N, 66.33'47"W".
| 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 | 31.47 miles (50.65 km) NNW | Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport (ARE) | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | |
| 2 | 36.17 miles (58.21 km) NNE | Dorado Airport (DDP) | Dorado, Puerto Rico | |
| 3 | 42.06 miles (67.68 km) WNW | Eugenio María de Hostos Airport (MAZ) | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | |
| 4 | 43.47 miles (69.96 km) NE | Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 5 | 47.35 miles (76.21 km) NE | Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 6 | 50.12 miles (80.66 km) NW | Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | |
| 7 | 50.86 miles (81.86 km) E | Humacao Airport (HUC) | Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 8 | 62.68 miles (100.87 km) ENE | Diego Jiménez Torres Airport (FAJ) | Fajardo, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 9 | 70.79 miles (113.92 km) E | Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) | Vieques, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 10 | 85.27 miles (137.24 km) ENE | Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) | Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico | |
| 11 | 106.81 miles (171.89 km) ENE | Cyril E. King Airport (STT) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 12 | 108.91 miles (175.28 km) ENE | Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 13 | 117.72 miles (189.46 km) E | Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 14 | 123.50 miles (198.76 km) E | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 15 | 123.53 miles (198.81 km) WNW | Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,201.40 miles (19,636.20 km) SSW | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,150.11 miles (19,553.66 km) SW | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,141.66 miles (19,540.07 km) S | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,060.71 miles (19,409.79 km) WSW | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 12,053.10 miles (19,397.53 km) SW | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,030.88 miles (19,361.78 km) SW | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,001.50 miles (19,314.49 km) SW | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,984.20 miles (19,286.66 km) SW | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,961.73 miles (19,250.49 km) S | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,949.11 miles (19,230.19 km) SW | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,945.32 miles (19,224.07 km) SW | Barimunya Airport (BYP) | Barimunya, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,891.92 miles (19,138.15 km) S | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,881.15 miles (19,120.80 km) SW | Newman Airport (ZNE) | Newman, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,859.11 miles (19,085.34 km) W | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,786.51 miles (18,968.51 km) S | Ngurah Rai International Airport (NRIA) (DPS) | Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia | |