Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(9°32'52"N by 100°3'43"E)
Distance from MER to USM:
8,263.85 miles (13,299.34 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- USM Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about USM
- 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 USM
- List of Nearest Airports to USM
- Map of Furthest Airports from USM
- List of Furthest Airports from USM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Samui International Airport (USM), Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,264 miles (or 13,299 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 Samui 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 Samui 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: | USM / VTSM |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand |
| GPS Coordinates: | 9°32'52"N by 100°3'43"E |
| Area Served: | Ko Samui |
| Operator/Owner: | Bangkok Airways |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 64 feet (20 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from USM |
| More Information: | USM Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Samui International Airport (USM):
- Because of Samui International Airport's relatively low elevation of 64 feet, planes can take off or land at Samui 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.
- In addition to being known as "Samui International Airport", another name for USM is "ท่าอากาศยานสมุย".
- The closest airport to Samui International Airport (USM) is Surat Thani International Airport (URT), which is located 69 miles (112 kilometers) WSW of USM.
- Samui International Airport (USM) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Samui International Airport (USM) is Teniente FAP Jaime Montreuil Morales Airport (CHM), which is nearly antipodal to Samui International Airport (meaning Samui International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Teniente FAP Jaime Montreuil Morales Airport), and is located 12,337 miles (19,854 kilometers) away in Chimbote, Ancash Region, Peru.
| 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 | 69.39 miles (111.67 km) WSW | Surat Thani International Airport (URT) | Surat Thani, Thailand | |
| 2 | 93.44 miles (150.38 km) NNW | Chumphon Airport (CJM) | Chumphon, Thailand | |
| 3 | 101.84 miles (163.90 km) W | Ranong Airport (UNN) | Ranong, Thailand | |
| 4 | 109.41 miles (176.07 km) WNW | Kawthaung Airport (KAW) | Kawthaung, Myanmar (Burma) | |
| 5 | 124.12 miles (199.76 km) SW | Krabi International Airport (KBV) | Krabi, Thailand | |
| 6 | 144.14 miles (231.96 km) SSW | Trang Airport (TST) | Trang, Thailand | |
| 7 | 155.01 miles (249.47 km) SW | Phuket International Airport (HKT) | Phuket, Thailand | |
| 8 | 182.07 miles (293.01 km) S | Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) | Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, Thailand | |
| 9 | 204.93 miles (329.80 km) SSE | Pattani Airport (PAN) | Pattani, Thailand | |
| 10 | 213.52 miles (343.62 km) N | Hua Hin Airport (HHQ) | Hua Hin, Thailand | |
| 11 | 222.43 miles (357.96 km) NNW | Myeik Airport (MGZ) | Myeik, Myanmar (Burma) | |
| 12 | 223.23 miles (359.26 km) S | Langkawi International Airport (LGK) | Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia | |
| 13 | 225.64 miles (363.13 km) NNE | U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP) | Rayong, Thailand | |
| 14 | 232.85 miles (374.73 km) S | Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (AOR) | Alor Star, Kedah, Malaysia | |
| 15 | 242.76 miles (390.68 km) NE | Trat Airport (TDX) | Trat, Thailand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,336.56 miles (19,853.72 km) WSW | Teniente FAP Jaime Montreuil Morales Airport (CHM) | Chimbote, Ancash Region, Peru | |
| 2 | 12,320.74 miles (19,828.26 km) SSW | Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (TRU) | Trujillo, Peru | |
| 3 | 12,276.75 miles (19,757.46 km) W | Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport (ATA) | Huaraz, Peru | |
| 4 | 12,245.91 miles (19,707.84 km) S | Cap. FAP José A. Quiñones González International Airport (CIX) | Chiclayo, Peru | |
| 5 | 12,243.15 miles (19,703.39 km) SSW | Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias (CJA) | Cajamarca, Peru | |
| 6 | 12,181.55 miles (19,604.25 km) W | Alf. FAP David Figueroa Fernandini (HUU) | Huánuco, Huánuco Region, Peru | |
| 7 | 12,180.01 miles (19,601.78 km) SW | Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) | Callao (near Lima), Peru | |
| 8 | 12,168.11 miles (19,582.62 km) W | Tingo María Airport (TGI) | Tingo María, Peru | |
| 9 | 12,165.25 miles (19,578.02 km) SSW | Chachapoyas Airport (CHH) | Chachapoyas, Peru | |
| 10 | 12,162.76 miles (19,574.01 km) SW | Juanjuí Airport (JJI) | Juanjuí, Peru | |
| 11 | 12,132.82 miles (19,525.83 km) S | Cap. FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport (PIU) | Piura, Peru | |
| 12 | 12,096.61 miles (19,467.56 km) WSW | Jauja AirportFrancisco Carle Airport (JAU) | Jauja, Peru | |
| 13 | 12,081.66 miles (19,443.50 km) SSE | Cap. FAP Victor Montes Arias Airport (TYL) | Talara, Peru | |
| 14 | 12,079.61 miles (19,440.19 km) S | José María Velasco Ibarra Airport (MRR) | Macará, Ecuador | |
| 15 | 12,073.32 miles (19,430.08 km) SW | Moisés Benzaquén Rengifo Airport (YMS) | Yurimaguas, Peru | |