Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Maamigili, Maldives:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(3°28'14"N by 72°50'8"E)
Distance from MER to VAM:
9,485.88 miles (15,266.01 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- VAM Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about VAM
- 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 VAM
- List of Nearest Airports to VAM
- Map of Furthest Airports from VAM
- List of Furthest Airports from VAM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Villa International Airport (VAM), Maamigili, Maldives would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,486 miles (or 15,266 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 Villa 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 Villa 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: | VAM / VRMV |
| Airport Name: | Villa International Airport |
| Location: | Maamigili, Maldives |
| GPS Coordinates: | 3°28'14"N by 72°50'8"E |
| Area Served: | Maamigili, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Maldives |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 6 feet (2 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VAM |
| More Information: | VAM Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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 Villa International Airport (VAM):
- Villa International Airport (VAM) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Villa International Airport (VAM) is Seymour Airport (GPS), which is located 11,252 miles (18,108 kilometers) away in Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
- Maamigili Airport, March 2013
- The closest airport to Villa International Airport (VAM) is Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (MLE), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) NE of VAM.
- Because of Villa International Airport's relatively low elevation of 6 feet, planes can take off or land at Villa 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.
- Maamigili Airport Apron, March 2013
| 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 | 69.03 miles (111.09 km) NE | Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (MLE) | Hulhulé Island, Maldives | |
| 2 | 90.86 miles (146.22 km) SSE | Thimarafushi Airport (TMF) | Thimarafushi, Thaa Atoll, Maldives | |
| 3 | 120.99 miles (194.71 km) SSE | Kadhdhoo Airport (KDO) | Kadhdhoo Island, Laamu Atoll, Maldives | |
| 4 | 206.37 miles (332.12 km) S | Kaadedhdhoo Airport (KDM) | Kaadedhdhoo Island, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives | |
| 5 | 227.35 miles (365.89 km) N | Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) | Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives | |
| 6 | 264.40 miles (425.51 km) S | Fuvahmulah Airport (FVM) | Fuvahmulah, Maldives | |
| 7 | 445.67 miles (717.23 km) NE | Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | |
| 8 | 510.34 miles (821.31 km) N | Agatti Aerodrome (AGX) | Agatti Island, India | |
| 9 | 522.28 miles (840.52 km) NNE | Cochin International Airport (COK) | Nedumbassery near Kochi (Cochin), Kerala, India | |
| 10 | 537.53 miles (865.07 km) ENE | Ratmalana Airport (RML) | Ratmalana, Sri Lanka | |
| 11 | 544.03 miles (875.53 km) ENE | Koggala Airport (KCT) | Galle, Sri Lanka | |
| 12 | 548.38 miles (882.53 km) ENE | Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) | Colombo, Sri Lanka | |
| 13 | 568.45 miles (914.84 km) NE | Madurai Airport (IXM) | Madurai, India | |
| 14 | 571.15 miles (919.17 km) NNE | Calicut International Airport (CCJ) | Kozhikode (Calicut), India | |
| 15 | 596.27 miles (959.60 km) NNE | Coimbatore International Airport (CJB) | Coimbatore, India | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,251.59 miles (18,107.63 km) W | Seymour Airport (GPS) | Baltra Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | |
| 2 | 11,212.59 miles (18,044.86 km) W | San Cristóbal Airport (SCY) | San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | |
| 3 | 10,950.51 miles (17,623.09 km) NNW | General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport (ACA) | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 4 | 10,933.09 miles (17,595.06 km) NNW | Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM) | Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 5 | 10,929.85 miles (17,589.85 km) NNW | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH) | Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 6 | 10,915.47 miles (17,566.70 km) NNW | Lázaro Cárdenas Airport (LZC) | Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico | |
| 7 | 10,912.46 miles (17,561.86 km) NNW | Huatulco International Airport (HUX) | Huatulco (Bahías de Huatulco), Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 8 | 10,864.23 miles (17,484.24 km) N | Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO) | Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico | |
| 9 | 10,853.26 miles (17,466.58 km) NNW | Xoxocotlán International Airport (OAX) | Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 10 | 10,850.18 miles (17,461.63 km) NNW | Salina Cruz Airport (SCX) | Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico | |
| 11 | 10,846.31 miles (17,455.40 km) N | Licenciado Miguel de la Madrid Airport (CLQ) | Colima, Colima, Mexico | |
| 12 | 10,818.91 miles (17,411.31 km) NNW | Lic. y Gen. Ignacio Lopez Rayon International Airport (UPN) | Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico | |
| 13 | 10,818.72 miles (17,410.99 km) NW | Tapachula International Airport (TAP) | Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico | |
| 14 | 10,804.61 miles (17,388.29 km) NNW | General Mariano Matamoros Airport (CVJ) | Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico | |
| 15 | 10,803.67 miles (17,386.78 km) NW | Retalhuleu Airport (RER) | Retalhuleu, Guatemala | |