Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Abau, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(10°10'1"S by 148°41'59"E)
Distance from MSL to ABW:
8,520.21 miles (13,711.92 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- ABW Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about ABW
- Map of Nearest Airports to MSL
- List of Nearest Airports to MSL
- Map of Furthest Airports from MSL
- List of Furthest Airports from MSL
- Map of Nearest Airports to ABW
- List of Nearest Airports to ABW
- Map of Furthest Airports from ABW
- List of Furthest Airports from ABW
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Abau Airport (ABW), Abau, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,520 miles (or 13,712 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 Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Abau 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 Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Abau Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MSL / KMSL |
| Airport Name: | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport |
| Location: | Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W |
| Area Served: | Muscle Shoals, Alabama |
| Operator/Owner: | Colbert & Lauderdale Counties |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 551 feet (168 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MSL |
| More Information: | MSL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ABW / |
| Airport Name: | Abau Airport |
| Location: | Abau, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 10°10'1"S by 148°41'59"E |
| Elevation: | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ABW |
| More Information: | ABW Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- The closest airport to Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU), which is located 38 miles (62 kilometers) E of MSL.
- Because of Northwest Alabama Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 551 feet, planes can take off or land at Northwest Alabama Regional 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,143 miles (17,932 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Historically, Muscle Shoals was served by Southern Airways which operated Douglas DC-9-10 and DC-9-30 jetliners on nonstop and direct flights to Atlanta.
- Instruction at the school consisted of teaching the cadets to fly in formation, fly by instruments or by aerial navigation, fly at night, and fly for long distances.
Facts about Abau Airport (ABW):
- The furthest airport from Abau Airport (ABW) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,873 miles (19,108 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- The closest airport to Abau Airport (ABW) is Agaun Airport (AUP), which is located 49 miles (80 kilometers) ENE of ABW.
- Because of Abau Airport's relatively low elevation of 10 feet, planes can take off or land at Abau 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 38.30 miles (61.63 km) E | Pryor Field Regional Airport (DCU) | Decatur, Alabama, United States |     |
| 2 | 48.04 miles (77.31 km) E | Huntsville International Airport (HSV) | Huntsville / Decatur, Alabama, United States | |
| 3 | 48.69 miles (78.35 km) SSW | Marion County - Rankin Fite Airport (HAB) | Hamilton, Alabama, United States | |
| 4 | 52.77 miles (84.92 km) E | Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) (HUA) | Redstone Arsenal (near Huntsville), Alabama, United States | |
| 5 | 57.54 miles (92.61 km) WNW | Roscoe Turner Airport (CRX) | Corinth, Mississippi, United States | |
| 6 | 60.98 miles (98.14 km) NNE | Maury County Airport (MRC) | Columbia/Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, United States | |
| 7 | 63.15 miles (101.63 km) ENE | Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FYM) | Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 8 | 73.81 miles (118.78 km) WSW | Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP) | Tupelo, Mississippi, United States | |
| 9 | 76.02 miles (122.34 km) N | Centerville Municipal Airport (GHM) | Centerville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 10 | 86.70 miles (139.52 km) NE | Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI) | Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States | |
| 11 | 88.71 miles (142.77 km) ENE | Tullahoma Regional Airport (THA) | Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States | |
| 12 | 89.78 miles (144.49 km) SSW | Columbus Air Force Base (CBM) | Columbus, Mississippi, United States | |
| 13 | 94.44 miles (151.99 km) NW | McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) | Jackson, Tennessee, United States | |
| 14 | 95.23 miles (153.26 km) SSE | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
| 15 | 98.80 miles (159.01 km) SSW | Columbus-Lowndes County Airport (UBS) | Columbus, Mississippi, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,142.65 miles (17,932.31 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,122.93 miles (17,900.57 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,103.49 miles (17,869.29 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,090.79 miles (17,848.85 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,087.23 miles (17,843.13 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,084.36 miles (17,838.50 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,072.96 miles (17,820.15 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,066.34 miles (17,809.50 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,065.40 miles (17,807.98 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,059.28 miles (17,798.14 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,036.88 miles (17,762.10 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,012.40 miles (17,722.70 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,003.51 miles (17,708.39 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,999.24 miles (17,701.51 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,995.36 miles (17,695.27 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 49.42 miles (79.53 km) ENE | Agaun Airport (AUP) | Agaun, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 65.17 miles (104.88 km) NNE | Wanigela Airport (AGL) | Wanigela, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 99.50 miles (160.13 km) NW | Efogi Airport (EFG) | Efogi, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4 | 103.34 miles (166.31 km) NW | Haelogo Airport (HEO) | Haelogo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 5 | 110.49 miles (177.82 km) NW | Kokoda Airport (KKD) | Kokoda, Papua New Guinea | |
| 6 | 111.52 miles (179.48 km) E | Gurney Airport (GUR) | Alotau, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 112.49 miles (181.03 km) WNW | Jacksons International Airport (POM) | Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 125.32 miles (201.69 km) ENE | Vivigani Airport (VIV) | Vivigani, Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 156.79 miles (252.33 km) NW | Fane Airport (FNE) | Fane, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 198.78 miles (319.90 km) NE | Losuia Airport (Kiriwina Airfield) (LSA) | Losuia, Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 247.35 miles (398.06 km) NW | Bulolo Airport (BUL) | Bulolo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 12 | 251.20 miles (404.26 km) NW | Kerema Airport (KMA) | Kerema, Papua New Guinea | |
| 13 | 251.65 miles (404.98 km) NNW | Finschhafen Airport (FIN) | Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | |
| 14 | 274.27 miles (441.39 km) NW | Ihu Airport (IHU) | Ihu, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 279.51 miles (449.82 km) NNE | Kandrian Airport (KDR) | Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,873.21 miles (19,108.04 km) NW | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,859.15 miles (19,085.41 km) NW | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,816.31 miles (19,016.46 km) WNW | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,814.04 miles (19,012.81 km) NW | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,796.63 miles (18,984.79 km) NW | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,792.05 miles (18,977.41 km) WNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 7 | 11,789.54 miles (18,973.38 km) NW | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 8 | 11,736.78 miles (18,888.48 km) NW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,715.03 miles (18,853.47 km) NW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,464.88 miles (18,450.90 km) N | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,453.33 miles (18,432.31 km) WNW | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 12 | 11,438.74 miles (18,408.83 km) W | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 13 | 11,422.27 miles (18,382.31 km) WNW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,406.36 miles (18,356.71 km) W | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 15 | 11,384.40 miles (18,321.37 km) W | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |