Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(18°2'26"N by 63°6'33"W)
Distance from MER to SXM:
3,698.39 miles (5,951.97 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- SXM Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about SXM
- 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 SXM
- List of Nearest Airports to SXM
- Map of Furthest Airports from SXM
- List of Furthest Airports from SXM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,698 miles (or 5,952 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 Princess Juliana 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 Princess Juliana 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: | SXM / TNCM |
| Airport Name: | Princess Juliana International Airport |
| Location: | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°2'26"N by 63°6'33"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Princess Juliana Int'l Airport Holding Company N.V. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 14 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SXM |
| More Information: | SXM Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- Castle Airport is a public use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States.
- 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.
Facts about Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM):
- Despite the reputed difficulties in approach, there have been no records of major incidents at the airport, although ALM Flight 980 crashed 30 miles from St.
- The main apron measures 72,500 square metres with another 5,000 square metres on Eastern apron.
- Because of Princess Juliana International Airport's relatively low elevation of 14 feet, planes can take off or land at Princess Juliana 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 Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) NE of SXM.
- Although the airport is as close to the beach as it is, there have only been 2 major accidents.
- Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is Karratha Airport (KTA), which is nearly antipodal to Princess Juliana International Airport (meaning Princess Juliana International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Karratha Airport), and is located 12,252 miles (19,718 kilometers) away in Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia.
- If traffic develops as forecast, Phase III of the masterplan will be executed, consisting of an extension of the new terminal building and the construction of a full parallel taxiway system.
| 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 | 5.73 miles (9.22 km) NE | L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) | Saint Martin, Guadeloupe | |
| 2 | 11.87 miles (19.11 km) NNE | Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) | The Valley, Anguilla | |
| 3 | 19.83 miles (31.92 km) ESE | Gustaf III Airport Saint Barthélemy Airport St. Jean Airport (SBH) | Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Barthélemy | |
| 4 | 28.27 miles (45.50 km) SSW | Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) | Saba, Caribbean Netherlands | |
| 5 | 38.58 miles (62.08 km) SSE | F.D. Roosevelt Airport (EUX) | Sint Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands | |
| 6 | 56.59 miles (91.07 km) SSE | Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| 7 | 67.09 miles (107.97 km) SSE | Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV) | Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| 8 | 88.87 miles (143.03 km) ESE | Barbuda Codrington Airport (BBQ) | Codrington, Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 9 | 90.93 miles (146.34 km) WNW | Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands | |
| 10 | 98.14 miles (157.94 km) WNW | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) | Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands | |
| 11 | 105.36 miles (169.55 km) SE | John A. Osborne Airport (MNI) | Montserrat, British Overseas Territories, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 106.85 miles (171.96 km) W | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 13 | 106.86 miles (171.98 km) SE | V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) | St. John's, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 14 | 113.68 miles (182.95 km) WSW | Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 15 | 121.96 miles (196.28 km) W | Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,252.07 miles (19,717.74 km) S | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,239.58 miles (19,697.64 km) SW | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,218.93 miles (19,664.41 km) SSE | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,171.40 miles (19,587.93 km) SSW | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 12,140.18 miles (19,537.67 km) S | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,105.58 miles (19,482.00 km) S | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,094.71 miles (19,464.50 km) SSE | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,086.03 miles (19,450.53 km) W | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,084.40 miles (19,447.91 km) SSW | Barimunya Airport (BYP) | Barimunya, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,078.03 miles (19,437.65 km) S | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 12,074.69 miles (19,432.28 km) SSW | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 12,020.39 miles (19,344.89 km) SSW | Newman Airport (ZNE) | Newman, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,988.82 miles (19,294.08 km) W | Derby Airport (DRB) | Derby, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,920.97 miles (19,184.89 km) SSE | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,867.54 miles (19,098.90 km) W | Fitzroy Crossing Airport (FIZ) | Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia | |