Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(18°26'44"N by 64°25'41"W)
Distance from MER to VIJ:
3,610.81 miles (5,811.03 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- VIJ Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about VIJ
- 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 VIJ
- List of Nearest Airports to VIJ
- Map of Furthest Airports from VIJ
- List of Furthest Airports from VIJ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ), Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,611 miles (or 5,811 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 Virgin Gorda 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 Virgin Gorda 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: | VIJ / TUPW |
| Airport Name: | Virgin Gorda Airport |
| Location: | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°26'44"N by 64°25'41"W |
| Area Served: | Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda |
| Operator/Owner: | BVIAA |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 14 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VIJ |
| More Information: | VIJ Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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 airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ):
- The closest airport to Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) is Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) E of VIJ.
- Because of Virgin Gorda Airport's relatively low elevation of 14 feet, planes can take off or land at Virgin Gorda 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 Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Virgin Gorda Airport (meaning Virgin Gorda Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,269 miles (19,745 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
- Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | 7.54 miles (12.13 km) E | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) | Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands | |
| 2 | 34.42 miles (55.40 km) WSW | Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 3 | 36.53 miles (58.78 km) WSW | Cyril E. King Airport (STT) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 4 | 51.56 miles (82.99 km) SSW | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 5 | 56.78 miles (91.38 km) SSW | Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 6 | 58.18 miles (93.64 km) W | Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) | Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico | |
| 7 | 73.13 miles (117.69 km) WSW | Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) | Vieques, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 8 | 81.46 miles (131.10 km) W | Diego Jiménez Torres Airport (FAJ) | Fajardo, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 9 | 90.93 miles (146.34 km) ESE | Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
| 10 | 91.58 miles (147.39 km) E | Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) | The Valley, Anguilla | |
| 11 | 92.53 miles (148.91 km) WSW | Humacao Airport (HUC) | Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| 12 | 93.57 miles (150.59 km) ESE | L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) | Saint Martin, Guadeloupe | |
| 13 | 96.68 miles (155.60 km) SE | Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) | Saba, Caribbean Netherlands | |
| 14 | 103.16 miles (166.02 km) W | Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 15 | 109.47 miles (176.18 km) W | Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (SIG) | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,269.22 miles (19,745.35 km) S | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,261.75 miles (19,733.32 km) SSW | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,197.14 miles (19,629.35 km) SW | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,165.40 miles (19,578.26 km) SSW | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 12,157.85 miles (19,566.11 km) SSE | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,137.79 miles (19,533.84 km) SSW | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,104.61 miles (19,480.44 km) SSW | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,081.40 miles (19,443.08 km) SSW | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,063.46 miles (19,414.22 km) SW | Barimunya Airport (BYP) | Barimunya, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,061.12 miles (19,410.45 km) SSW | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,998.61 miles (19,309.84 km) W | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,998.05 miles (19,308.94 km) SW | Newman Airport (ZNE) | Newman, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,975.78 miles (19,273.10 km) SSE | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,906.64 miles (19,161.83 km) SSE | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,899.89 miles (19,150.97 km) W | Derby Airport (DRB) | Derby, Western Australia, Australia | |