Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(60°25'58"N by 1°17'45"W)
Distance from MER to SCS:
4,860.49 miles (7,822.18 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- SCS Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about SCS
- 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 SCS
- List of Nearest Airports to SCS
- Map of Furthest Airports from SCS
- List of Furthest Airports from SCS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Scatsta Airport (SCS), Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,860 miles (or 7,822 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 Scatsta 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 Scatsta 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: | SCS / EGPM |
| Airport Name: | Scatsta Airport |
| Location: | Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 60°25'58"N by 1°17'45"W |
| Area Served: | Shetland |
| Operator/Owner: | Serco UK and Europe on behalf of BP |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 81 feet (25 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SCS |
| More Information: | SCS Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 Scatsta Airport (SCS):
- Scatsta Airport (SCS) currently has only 1 runway.
- After World War II Scatsta Aerodrome lay dormant except for the landing of a US Coastguard Hercules on 24 May 1969, in connection with the LORAN navigation station which had been established at the north west end of runway 13/31.
- The closest airport to Scatsta Airport (SCS) is Tingwall Airport (LWK), which is located only 17 miles (27 kilometers) S of SCS.
- The airport has recently undergone significant upgrades as increasing investment has been provided to support the North Sea offshore rigs.
- Because of Scatsta Airport's relatively low elevation of 81 feet, planes can take off or land at Scatsta 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 Scatsta Airport (SCS) is Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS), which is located 11,409 miles (18,361 kilometers) away in Stewart Island, New Zealand.
| 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 | 16.74 miles (26.94 km) S | Tingwall Airport (LWK) | Lerwick, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 2 | 38.10 miles (61.31 km) S | Sumburgh Airport (LSI) | Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 3 | 63.11 miles (101.56 km) S | Fair Isle Airport (FIE) | Fair Isle, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 4 | 93.01 miles (149.68 km) SSW | Sanday Airport (NDY) | Sanday, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 5 | 99.88 miles (160.75 km) SSW | Stronsay Airport (SOY) | Stronsay, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 6 | 99.98 miles (160.90 km) SSW | Eday Airport (EOI) | Eday, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 7 | 116.23 miles (187.05 km) SSW | Kirkwall Airport (KOI) | Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 8 | 150.27 miles (241.83 km) SSW | Wick Airport (WIC) | Wick, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 201.91 miles (324.95 km) SSW | RAF Lossiemouth (LMO) | Lossiemouth, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 10 | 208.44 miles (335.46 km) SSW | Kinloss Barracks (FSS) | Forres, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 11 | 222.38 miles (357.88 km) SSW | Inverness Airport (INV) | Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 222.68 miles (358.37 km) E | Bergen-Flesland International Airport (BGO) | Bergen, Norway | |
| 13 | 225.51 miles (362.91 km) S | Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) | Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 226.00 miles (363.72 km) ENE | Florø Airport (FRO) | Florø, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway | |
| 15 | 228.37 miles (367.53 km) WNW | Vágar Airport (FAE) | Sørvágur, Faroe Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,408.90 miles (18,360.79 km) SSE | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,380.75 miles (18,315.49 km) SSE | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,376.59 miles (18,308.81 km) SSE | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,323.54 miles (18,223.43 km) SSE | Oamaru Airport (OAM) | Oamaru, North Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,317.87 miles (18,214.30 km) SSE | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,296.20 miles (18,179.43 km) SSE | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,283.69 miles (18,159.30 km) SSE | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,280.29 miles (18,153.82 km) SSE | Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (TIU) | Timaru, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,270.84 miles (18,138.61 km) SSW | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,261.03 miles (18,122.82 km) SSE | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,259.35 miles (18,120.12 km) SSE | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,240.88 miles (18,090.40 km) SSE | Glentanner Aerodrome (GTN) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,238.26 miles (18,086.19 km) SSE | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,231.61 miles (18,075.48 km) SSE | Mount Cook Airport (MON) | Mount Cook, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,209.78 miles (18,040.34 km) SSE | Fox Glacier Aerodrome (FGL) | Fox Glacier, New Zealand | |