Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Herat, Afghanistan:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(34°12'36"N by 62°13'40"E)
Distance from MSL to HEA:
7,288.76 miles (11,730.09 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- HEA Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about HEA
- 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 HEA
- List of Nearest Airports to HEA
- Map of Furthest Airports from HEA
- List of Furthest Airports from HEA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Herat International Airport (HEA), Herat, Afghanistan would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,289 miles (or 11,730 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 Herat 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 Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Herat 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: | 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: | HEA / OAHR |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Herat, Afghanistan |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°12'36"N by 62°13'40"E |
| Operator/Owner: | Afghanistan |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military |
| Elevation: | 3205 feet (977 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from HEA |
| More Information: | HEA Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (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.
- 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.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
- 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.
- 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 Herat International Airport (HEA):
- The furthest airport from Herat International Airport (HEA) is Mataveri International Airport (IPC), which is located 11,742 miles (18,897 kilometers) away in Easter Island, Chile.
- In May 2005, responsibility was shifted to the International Security Assistance Force, as part of the Stage 2 transition between the U.S.-led coalition and NATO.
- In addition to being known as "Herat International Airport", other names for HEA include "Herat Airport (Herat)" and "Persian: میدان هوایی بین المللی هرات".
- The closest airport to Herat International Airport (HEA) is Qala i Naw Airport د قلعه نوهوائی ډګر (LQN), which is located 74 miles (119 kilometers) NE of HEA.
- Herat International Airport (HEA) currently has only 1 runway.
- ISAF use has continued since 2005, joined by the Afghan National Army Air Corps, now Afghan Air Force, and the Afghan National Police.
- Turkish Airlines have planned to commence operations on an Istanbul-Herat route, operating 4 times a week, with an A319 aircraft, 4 times a weekly.
| 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 | 73.71 miles (118.62 km) NE | Qala i Naw Airport د قلعه نوهوائی ډګر (LQN) | Qala i Naw, Afghanistan | |
| 2 | 127.45 miles (205.11 km) S | Farah Airport د فراه هوائی ډګر (FAH) | Farah, Afghanistan | |
| 3 | 174.89 miles (281.46 km) E | Chaghcharan Airport د چغچران هوائی ډګر (CCN) | Chaghcharan, Afghanistan | |
| 4 | 186.13 miles (299.55 km) NE | Maymana Airport د میمنه هوائی ډګر (MMZ) | Maymana, Afghanistan | |
| 5 | 193.12 miles (310.80 km) WSW | Birjand International Airport (XBJ) | Birjand, Iran | |
| 6 | 202.22 miles (325.44 km) NW | Mashhad International Airport (MHD) | Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran | |
| 7 | 218.65 miles (351.88 km) S | Zabol Airport (ACZ) | Zabol, Iran | |
| 8 | 221.18 miles (355.96 km) SE | Bost Airport د بوست هوائی ډګر (BST) | Lashkar Gah (Bost), Afghanistan | |
| 9 | 224.89 miles (361.92 km) S | Zaranj Airport (ZAJ) | Zaranj, Afghanistan | |
| 10 | 235.39 miles (378.83 km) N | Mary International Airport (MYP) | Mary, Turkmenistan | |
| 11 | 237.16 miles (381.67 km) ESE | Tarin Kowt Airport (TII) | Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan | |
| 12 | 281.16 miles (452.48 km) SE | Kabul International Airport (KDH) | Kandahar, Afghanistan | |
| 13 | 308.09 miles (495.82 km) W | Tabas Airport (TCX) | Tabas, Iran | |
| 14 | 320.93 miles (516.49 km) E | Bamyan Airport د بامیان هوائی ډګر (BIN) | Bamyan, Afghanistan | |
| 15 | 329.09 miles (529.62 km) ENE | Mazar-e Sharif International Airpوort (MZR) | Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,742.26 miles (18,897.29 km) SW | Mataveri International Airport (IPC) | Easter Island, Chile | |
| 2 | 11,148.63 miles (17,941.94 km) ESE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 10,865.51 miles (17,486.31 km) ESE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 10,820.42 miles (17,413.73 km) SE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 10,787.08 miles (17,360.07 km) ESE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 10,625.82 miles (17,100.55 km) ESE | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 10,520.02 miles (16,930.28 km) SE | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 10,456.17 miles (16,827.53 km) ESE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 10,424.56 miles (16,776.66 km) ESE | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 10,366.07 miles (16,682.54 km) ESE | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 10,300.82 miles (16,577.52 km) ESE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 10,278.44 miles (16,541.51 km) SE | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 10,250.02 miles (16,495.77 km) ESE | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 10,241.03 miles (16,481.30 km) ESE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 10,215.83 miles (16,440.74 km) ESE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |