Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Arona, Ulawa Island, Solomon Islands:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(9°51'16"S by 161°58'45"E)
Distance from MSL to RNA:
7,760.98 miles (12,490.06 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- RNA Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about RNA
- 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 RNA
- List of Nearest Airports to RNA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RNA
- List of Furthest Airports from RNA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Ulawa Airport (RNA), Arona, Ulawa Island, Solomon Islands would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,761 miles (or 12,490 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 Ulawa 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 Ulawa 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: | RNA / AGAR |
| Airport Name: | Ulawa Airport |
| Location: | Arona, Ulawa Island, Solomon Islands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 9°51'16"S by 161°58'45"E |
| View all routes: | Routes from RNA |
| More Information: | RNA 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.
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
- 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.
- Pilot training at the airfield apparently ended on May 30, 1944, with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program.
- 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.
- Currently, Muscle Shoals is served by Silver Airways with two daily flights to Atlanta.
- Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) has 2 runways.
Facts about Ulawa Airport (RNA):
- The furthest airport from Ulawa Airport (RNA) is Bubaque Airport (BQE), which is nearly antipodal to Ulawa Airport (meaning Ulawa Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Bubaque Airport), and is located 12,258 miles (19,728 kilometers) away in Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau.
- The closest airport to Ulawa Airport (RNA) is Kirakira Airport (IRA), which is located 41 miles (67 kilometers) S of RNA.
| 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 | 41.46 miles (66.72 km) S | Kirakira Airport (IRA) | Kirakira, Makira Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 2 | 83.87 miles (134.98 km) WNW | Afutara Airport (AFT) | Afutara, Solomon Islands | |
| 3 | 94.61 miles (152.26 km) NW | Uru Harbour Airport (ATD) | Atoifi, Malaita, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 119.28 miles (191.96 km) NW | Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport (AKS) | Auki / Gwaunaru'u, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 134.36 miles (216.23 km) WNW | Honiara International Airport (formerly Henderson Field) (HIR) | Honiara, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 145.91 miles (234.82 km) W | Mbambanakira Airport (MBU) | Mbambanakira, Solomon Islands | |
| 7 | 178.71 miles (287.61 km) SW | Bellona/Anua Airport (BNY) | Anua, Bellona Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 8 | 195.34 miles (314.37 km) WNW | Yandina Airport (XYA) | Yandina, Solomon Islands | |
| 9 | 203.57 miles (327.61 km) NW | Fera Airport (FRE) | Maringe, Fera Island, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 10 | 338.60 miles (544.91 km) WNW | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 11 | 346.97 miles (558.39 km) WNW | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 369.55 miles (594.74 km) WNW | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 439.12 miles (706.69 km) WNW | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 460.84 miles (741.64 km) WNW | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 15 | 466.30 miles (750.43 km) SE | Vanua Lava Airport (SLH) | Sola, Vanua Lava, Torba Province, Vanuatu | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,258.16 miles (19,727.55 km) NW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 2 | 12,240.23 miles (19,698.70 km) NNW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 3 | 12,223.10 miles (19,671.12 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 4 | 12,216.08 miles (19,659.83 km) NNW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 5 | 12,178.92 miles (19,600.03 km) NNW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 6 | 12,171.33 miles (19,587.80 km) WNW | Boké Baralande Airport (BKJ) | Boké, Guinea | |
| 7 | 12,141.89 miles (19,540.43 km) NW | Kolda North Airport (KDA) | Kolda, Senegal | |
| 8 | 12,135.93 miles (19,530.84 km) W | Conakry International Airport (CKY) | Conakry, Guinea | |
| 9 | 12,132.06 miles (19,524.61 km) W | Fria Airport (FIG) | Fria, Guinea | |
| 10 | 12,111.76 miles (19,491.94 km) NNW | Kaolack Airport (KLC) | Kaolack, Senegal | |
| 11 | 12,097.40 miles (19,468.83 km) N | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 12 | 12,096.79 miles (19,467.85 km) WNW | Lungi International Airport (FNA) | Freetown, Sierra Leone | |
| 13 | 12,088.13 miles (19,453.91 km) WNW | Hastings Airport (HGS) | Freetown, Sierra Leone | |
| 14 | 12,069.25 miles (19,423.53 km) WNW | Sambailo Airport (SBI) | Koundara, Guinea | |
| 15 | 12,048.17 miles (19,389.60 km) NW | Simenti Airport (SMY) | Simenti, Senegal | |