Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(20°46'16"S by 138°33'53"W)
Distance from MER to ZTA:
4,185.16 miles (6,735.35 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- ZTA Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about ZTA
- 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 ZTA
- List of Nearest Airports to ZTA
- Map of Furthest Airports from ZTA
- List of Furthest Airports from ZTA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Tureira Airport (ZTA), Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,185 miles (or 6,735 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 Tureira 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 Tureira 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: | ZTA / NTGY |
| Airport Name: | Tureira Airport |
| Location: | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 20°46'16"S by 138°33'53"W |
| Elevation: | 0 feet (0 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ZTA |
| More Information: | ZTA 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.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
Facts about Tureira Airport (ZTA):
- Because of Tureira Airport's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Tureira 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 Tureira Airport (ZTA) is Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT), which is nearly antipodal to Tureira Airport (meaning Tureira Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Al-Baha Domestic Airport), and is located 12,402 miles (19,958 kilometers) away in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia.
- The first recorded European to arrive to Tureia was Captain Edward Edwards in 1791, during his search for the Bounty mutineers.
- The closest airport to Tureira Airport (ZTA) is Nukutavake Airport (NUK), which is located 104 miles (167 kilometers) N of ZTA.
| 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 | 103.56 miles (166.67 km) N | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 198.53 miles (319.51 km) NNE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 242.44 miles (390.17 km) NW | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 284.87 miles (458.45 km) SE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 374.47 miles (602.65 km) NNW | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 415.06 miles (667.97 km) NW | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 440.97 miles (709.67 km) NW | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 511.52 miles (823.20 km) WNW | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 567.62 miles (913.49 km) NW | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 627.89 miles (1,010.49 km) WNW | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 652.35 miles (1,049.85 km) NW | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 659.93 miles (1,062.06 km) NW | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 669.59 miles (1,077.59 km) NW | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 754.15 miles (1,213.68 km) WNW | Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 760.79 miles (1,224.37 km) N | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,401.54 miles (19,958.29 km) NNW | Al-Baha Domestic Airport (ABT) | Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 2 | 12,361.05 miles (19,893.13 km) NE | Ta'if Regional Airport (TIF) | Ta'if, Saudi Arabia | |
| 3 | 12,342.70 miles (19,863.60 km) NW | Bisha Domestic Airport (BHH) | Bisha, Saudi Arabia | |
| 4 | 12,277.20 miles (19,758.19 km) ENE | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 5 | 12,244.69 miles (19,705.86 km) NNW | Abha Regional Airport (AHB) | Abha / Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia | |
| 6 | 12,153.16 miles (19,558.57 km) NNE | Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED) | Medina, Saudi Arabia | |
| 7 | 12,148.99 miles (19,551.86 km) ENE | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |
| 8 | 12,144.28 miles (19,544.28 km) NW | Najran Domestic Airport (EAM) | Najran (Nejran), Saudi Arabia | |
| 9 | 12,130.32 miles (19,521.81 km) NNW | Dawadmi Domestic Airport (DWD) | Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia | |
| 10 | 12,119.55 miles (19,504.48 km) NE | Yanbu International Airport (YNB) | Yanbu (Yenbo), Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 11 | 12,060.01 miles (19,408.66 km) NNE | Massawa International Airport (MSW) | Massawa, Eritrea | |
| 12 | 12,027.85 miles (19,356.90 km) NNW | El Rahaba Airport (Sana'a International) (SAH) | Sana'a, Yemen | |
| 13 | 12,026.93 miles (19,355.42 km) NNW | Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport (ELQ) | Buraidah, Saudi Arabia | |
| 14 | 12,023.51 miles (19,349.91 km) NNE | Asmara International Airport (ASM) | Asmara, Eritrea | |
| 15 | 12,008.81 miles (19,326.25 km) NNW | Hodeida International Airport (HOD) | Al Hudaydah (Hodeida), Yemen | |