Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Lichinga, Mozambique:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from MER to VXC:
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- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- VXC Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about VXC
- 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 VXC
- List of Nearest Airports to VXC
- Map of Furthest Airports from VXC
- List of Furthest Airports from VXC
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Lichinga Airport (VXC), Lichinga, Mozambique would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,203 miles (or 16,420 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 Lichinga 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 Lichinga 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: | VXC / FQLC |
Airport Name: | Lichinga Airport |
Location: | Lichinga, Mozambique |
GPS Coordinates: | 13°16'26"S by 35°15'59"E |
Area Served: | Lichinga |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 4505 feet (1,373 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from VXC |
More Information: | VXC 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.
- Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- 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 Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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.
- 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 Lichinga Airport (VXC):
- The closest airport to Lichinga Airport (VXC) is Salima Airport (LMB), which is located 57 miles (91 kilometers) SW of VXC.
- Because of Lichinga Airport's high elevation of 4,505 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at VXC. Combined with a high temperature, this could make VXC a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- The furthest airport from Lichinga Airport (VXC) is Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is located 11,622 miles (18,703 kilometers) away in Hilo, Hawaii, United States.
- Lichinga Airport (VXC) currently has only 1 runway.