Nonstop flight route between Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Santa Barbara, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(34°44'43"N by 87°36'37"W)
Arrival Airport:
(34°3'38"N by 119°54'54"W)
Distance from MSL to SZN:
1,834.26 miles (2,951.94 km)
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- About this route
- MSL Airport Information
- SZN Airport Information
- Facts about MSL
- Facts about SZN
- 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 SZN
- List of Nearest Airports to SZN
- Map of Furthest Airports from SZN
- List of Furthest Airports from SZN
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States and Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN), Santa Barbara, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,834 miles (or 2,952 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 relatively short distance between Northwest Alabama Regional Airport and Santa Cruz Island Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
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: | SZN / KSZN |
| Airport Name: | Santa Cruz Island Airport |
| Location: | Santa Barbara, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°3'38"N by 119°54'54"W |
| Operator/Owner: | The Nature Conservancy |
| Airport Type: | Private |
| Elevation: | 50 feet (15 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SZN |
| More Information: | SZN Maps & Info |
Facts about Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prior to summer 2009, Muscle Shoals was served from Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis via Northwest Airlink turboprop service operated by Mesaba Airlines.
- 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.
Facts about Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN):
- The furthest airport from Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,512 miles (18,527 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Santa Cruz Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 50 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Cruz Island 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 closest airport to Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) is Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), which is located 26 miles (41 kilometers) N of SZN.
| 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 | 25.62 miles (41.22 km) N | Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 2 | 38.85 miles (62.52 km) NNW | Santa Ynez Airport (SQA) | Santa Ynez, California, United States | |
| 3 | 41.62 miles (66.99 km) ENE | Oxnard Airport (OXR) | Oxnard, California, United States | |
| 4 | 45.61 miles (73.41 km) E | Naval Air Station Point Mugu (NTD) | Point Mugu, California, United States | |
| 5 | 52.35 miles (84.25 km) NW | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 6 | 52.62 miles (84.69 km) ENE | Santa Paula Airport (SZP) | Santa Paula, California, United States | |
| 7 | 59.51 miles (95.77 km) NW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 8 | 65.65 miles (105.65 km) NNW | Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) | Santa Maria, California, United States | |
| 9 | 82.14 miles (132.20 km) E | Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Van Nuys, California, United States | |
| 10 | 83.86 miles (134.95 km) E | Santa Monica Airport (SMO) | Santa Monica, California, United States | |
| 11 | 86.70 miles (139.53 km) E | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 12 | 86.94 miles (139.92 km) E | Whiteman Airport (WHP) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 13 | 89.54 miles (144.10 km) E | Bob Hope Airport (BUR) | Burbank, California, United States | |
| 14 | 91.00 miles (146.44 km) E | Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) | Hawthorne, California, United States | |
| 15 | 91.18 miles (146.74 km) NNW | San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) | San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,511.95 miles (18,526.64 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,485.01 miles (18,483.29 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 3 | 11,483.63 miles (18,481.06 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 11,432.72 miles (18,399.13 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,428.34 miles (18,392.09 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,310.89 miles (18,203.07 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,296.50 miles (18,179.90 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,260.28 miles (18,121.62 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,152.37 miles (17,947.95 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,138.79 miles (17,926.10 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,127.68 miles (17,908.22 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,124.00 miles (17,902.30 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,112.07 miles (17,883.09 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,103.17 miles (17,868.77 km) SSE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 11,091.75 miles (17,850.40 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |