Nonstop flight route between Columbus, Nebraska, United States and Shemya, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
(41°26'53"N by 97°20'34"W)
Arrival Airport:
(52°42'43"N by 174°6'48"E)
Distance from OLU to SYA:
3,968.72 miles (6,387.02 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- OLU Airport Information
- SYA Airport Information
- Facts about OLU
- Facts about SYA
- Map of Nearest Airports to OLU
- List of Nearest Airports to OLU
- Map of Furthest Airports from OLU
- List of Furthest Airports from OLU
- Map of Nearest Airports to SYA
- List of Nearest Airports to SYA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SYA
- List of Furthest Airports from SYA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU), Columbus, Nebraska, United States and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,969 miles (or 6,387 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 Columbus Municipal Airport and Eareckson Air Station, 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 Columbus Municipal Airport and Eareckson Air Station. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | OLU / KOLU |
| Airport Name: | Columbus Municipal Airport |
| Location: | Columbus, Nebraska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°26'53"N by 97°20'34"W |
| Area Served: | Columbus, Nebraska |
| Operator/Owner: | Columbus Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1447 feet (441 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from OLU |
| More Information: | OLU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SYA / PASY |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Shemya, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 52°42'43"N by 174°6'48"E |
| Operator/Owner: | U.S. Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 97 feet (30 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SYA |
| More Information: | SYA Maps & Info |
Facts about Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU):
- The closest airport to Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU) is Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK), which is located 37 miles (60 kilometers) N of OLU.
- Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,601 miles (17,060 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):
- Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station 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 spring of 1944 brought improving weather and the B-24s and PV-1s to fly more missions over the Kuriles.
- In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and " ".
- In 1966 the Air Defense Command 9th Air Division assumed jurisdiction of the base.
- On 6 April 1993, Shemya Air Force Base was renamed Eareckson Air Station.
- The furthest airport from Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Shemya also continued to support the Great Circle Route for MATS and later Military Airlift Command transports between Japan and Elmendorf AFB.
- The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 37.44 miles (60.26 km) N | Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK) | Norfolk, Nebraska, United States |     |
| 2 | 38.53 miles (62.01 km) ENE | Scribner State AirportScribner Army Airfield (SCB) | Scribner, Nebraska, United States | |
| 3 | 42.60 miles (68.55 km) E | Fremont Municipal Airport (FET) | Fremont, Nebraska, United States | |
| 4 | 51.22 miles (82.42 km) SE | Lincoln Airport (LNK) | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | |
| 5 | 60.24 miles (96.94 km) WSW | Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI) | Grand Island, Nebraska, United States | |
| 6 | 66.18 miles (106.51 km) ESE | Millard Airport (MIQ) | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| 7 | 75.73 miles (121.87 km) E | Eppley Airfield (OMA) | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| 8 | 77.85 miles (125.28 km) ESE | Offutt Air Force Base (OFF) | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| 9 | 81.17 miles (130.63 km) SW | Hastings Municipal Airport (HSI) | Hastings, Nebraska, United States | |
| 10 | 82.31 miles (132.47 km) NE | Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) | Sioux City, Iowa, United States | |
| 11 | 83.18 miles (133.87 km) E | Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF) | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| 12 | 85.01 miles (136.81 km) SSE | Beatrice Municipal Airport (BIE) | Beatrice, Nebraska, United States | |
| 13 | 98.75 miles (158.92 km) NW | O'Neill Municipal Airport (ONL) | O'Neill, Nebraska, United States | |
| 14 | 99.95 miles (160.85 km) WSW | Kearney Regional Airport (EAR) | Kearney, Nebraska, United States | |
| 15 | 101.50 miles (163.34 km) N | Chan Gurney Municipal Airport (YKN) | Yankton, South Dakota, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,600.55 miles (17,059.89 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,577.68 miles (17,023.08 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,558.74 miles (16,992.60 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 10,556.90 miles (16,989.64 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,553.86 miles (16,984.75 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,516.33 miles (16,924.35 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,501.92 miles (16,901.16 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,492.24 miles (16,885.58 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,490.10 miles (16,882.14 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,480.93 miles (16,867.37 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,461.75 miles (16,836.51 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,441.12 miles (16,803.31 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,419.01 miles (16,767.73 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,390.93 miles (16,722.54 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,388.04 miles (16,717.88 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 40.08 miles (64.50 km) WNW | Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU) | Attu Island, Alaska, United States | |
| 2 | 394.42 miles (634.75 km) E | Adak Airport (ADK) | Adak Island, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 492.29 miles (792.27 km) E | Atka Airport (AKB) | Atka, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 651.52 miles (1,048.52 km) W | Yelizovo Airport (PKC) | Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | |
| 5 | 691.63 miles (1,113.07 km) ENE | St. Paul Island Airport (SNP) | St. Paul Island, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 699.29 miles (1,125.40 km) ENE | St. George Airport (STG) | St. George, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 709.79 miles (1,142.29 km) E | Nikolski Air Station (IKO) | Nikolski, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 800.21 miles (1,287.82 km) ENE | Unalaska Airport (DUT) | Unalaska, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 830.85 miles (1,337.11 km) ENE | Akutan Seaplane Base (KQA) | Akutan, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 836.14 miles (1,345.63 km) N | Markovo Airport (KVM) | Markovo, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia | |
| 11 | 840.49 miles (1,352.63 km) N | Ugolny Airport (DYR) | Anadyr, Russia | |
| 12 | 909.99 miles (1,464.48 km) NE | Mekoryuk Airport (MYU) | Mekoryuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 916.57 miles (1,475.08 km) NNE | Gambell Airport (GAM) | Gambell, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 922.18 miles (1,484.10 km) NNE | Provideniya Bay Airport (PVS) | Provideniya, Chukotka, Russia | |
| 15 | 925.26 miles (1,489.06 km) ENE | False Pass Airport (KFP) | False Pass, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,667.64 miles (17,167.86 km) SW | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 2 | 10,539.13 miles (16,961.04 km) WSW | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,465.34 miles (16,842.30 km) SW | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,423.27 miles (16,774.58 km) SE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 5 | 10,420.29 miles (16,769.79 km) WSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,414.55 miles (16,760.55 km) SW | Alexander Bay Airport (ALJ) | Alexander Bay, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,389.25 miles (16,719.84 km) SW | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,389.24 miles (16,719.83 km) SW | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 9 | 10,350.27 miles (16,657.10 km) WSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,334.02 miles (16,630.96 km) SW | Lüderitz Airport (LUD) | Luderitz, Namibia | |
| 11 | 10,317.17 miles (16,603.83 km) SW | Karasburg Airport (KAS) | Karasburg, Namibia | |
| 12 | 10,287.63 miles (16,556.29 km) WSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 13 | 10,286.30 miles (16,554.16 km) ESE | Port Stanley Airport (PSY) | Stanley, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 14 | 10,263.57 miles (16,517.57 km) ESE | RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN) | Falkland Islands | |
| 15 | 10,260.22 miles (16,512.19 km) SW | Upington Airport (UTN) | Upington, South Africa | |