Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Praia, Cape Verde:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(14°55'27"N by 23°29'38"W)
Distance from MER to RAI:
5,973.61 miles (9,613.57 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- RAI Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about RAI
- 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 RAI
- List of Nearest Airports to RAI
- Map of Furthest Airports from RAI
- List of Furthest Airports from RAI
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Praia International Airport (RAI), Praia, Cape Verde would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,974 miles (or 9,614 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 Praia 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 Praia 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: | RAI / GVNP |
| Airport Name: | Praia International Airport |
| Location: | Praia, Cape Verde |
| GPS Coordinates: | 14°55'27"N by 23°29'38"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Aeroportos Segurança Aérea (ASA) |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 230 feet (70 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RAI |
| More Information: | RAI Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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 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.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
Facts about Praia International Airport (RAI):
- The furthest airport from Praia International Airport (RAI) is Bellona/Anua Airport (BNY), which is nearly antipodal to Praia International Airport (meaning Praia International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Bellona/Anua Airport), and is located 12,103 miles (19,477 kilometers) away in Anua, Bellona Island, Solomon Islands.
- Praia International Airport (RAI) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Praia International Airport's relatively low elevation of 230 feet, planes can take off or land at Praia 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 closest airport to Praia International Airport (RAI) is Maio Airport (MMO), which is located 25 miles (40 kilometers) NE of RAI.
| 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 | 24.59 miles (39.57 km) NE | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 57.09 miles (91.87 km) W | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 65.90 miles (106.06 km) W | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 92.99 miles (149.65 km) NNE | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 126.38 miles (203.39 km) NNW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 130.77 miles (210.45 km) NNE | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 167.88 miles (270.18 km) NW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 189.82 miles (305.49 km) NNW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 401.20 miles (645.67 km) E | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 10 | 471.30 miles (758.48 km) ESE | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 11 | 474.54 miles (763.70 km) E | Saint-Louis Airport (XLS) | Saint-Louis, Senegal | |
| 12 | 485.14 miles (780.75 km) ESE | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 13 | 500.65 miles (805.72 km) E | Kaolack Airport (KLC) | Kaolack, Senegal | |
| 14 | 510.92 miles (822.24 km) ESE | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 15 | 531.64 miles (855.60 km) ENE | Richard Toll Airport (RDT) | Richard Toll, Senegal | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,102.59 miles (19,477.17 km) SW | Bellona/Anua Airport (BNY) | Anua, Bellona Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 2 | 12,053.83 miles (19,398.71 km) SE | Misima Airport (MIS) | Misima Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 12,014.31 miles (19,335.11 km) SSW | Mbambanakira Airport (MBU) | Mbambanakira, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 11,994.17 miles (19,302.70 km) SSW | Yandina Airport (XYA) | Yandina, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 11,987.80 miles (19,292.45 km) SSW | Honiara International Airport (formerly Henderson Field) (HIR) | Honiara, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 11,978.18 miles (19,276.96 km) S | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 7 | 11,976.06 miles (19,273.55 km) SSE | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 11,964.57 miles (19,255.07 km) S | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 9 | 11,959.70 miles (19,247.23 km) SW | Kirakira Airport (IRA) | Kirakira, Makira Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 10 | 11,939.91 miles (19,215.37 km) SW | Afutara Airport (AFT) | Afutara, Solomon Islands | |
| 11 | 11,927.88 miles (19,196.02 km) SW | Ulawa Airport (RNA) | Arona, Ulawa Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 11,922.31 miles (19,187.05 km) SSW | Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS) | Auki / Gwaunaru'u, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 11,921.99 miles (19,186.53 km) SSW | Fera Airport (FRE) | Maringe, Fera Island, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 11,919.63 miles (19,182.73 km) SW | Uru Harbour Airport (ATD) | Atoifi, Malaita, Solomon Islands | |
| 15 | 11,914.14 miles (19,173.90 km) S | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |