Nonstop flight route between Pierre, South Dakota, United States and Yamagata, Honshū, Japan:
Departure Airport:
(44°22'58"N by 100°17'9"W)
Arrival Airport:
(38°24'42"N by 140°22'15"E)
Distance from PIR to GAJ:
5,581.64 miles (8,982.75 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PIR Airport Information
- GAJ Airport Information
- Facts about PIR
- Facts about GAJ
- Map of Nearest Airports to PIR
- List of Nearest Airports to PIR
- Map of Furthest Airports from PIR
- List of Furthest Airports from PIR
- Map of Nearest Airports to GAJ
- List of Nearest Airports to GAJ
- Map of Furthest Airports from GAJ
- List of Furthest Airports from GAJ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Pierre Regional Airport (PIR), Pierre, South Dakota, United States and Yamagata Airport (GAJ), Yamagata, Honshū, Japan would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,582 miles (or 8,983 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 Pierre Regional Airport and Yamagata 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 Pierre Regional Airport and Yamagata Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PIR / KPIR |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pierre, South Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°22'58"N by 100°17'9"W |
| Area Served: | Pierre, South Dakota |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Pierre |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1744 feet (532 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PIR |
| More Information: | PIR Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | GAJ / RJSC |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Yamagata, Honshū, Japan |
| GPS Coordinates: | 38°24'42"N by 140°22'15"E |
| Area Served: | Yamagata |
| Airport Type: | Military/Public |
| Elevation: | 345 feet (105 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from GAJ |
| More Information: | GAJ Maps & Info |
Facts about Pierre Regional Airport (PIR):
- During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces by Air Technical Service Command as a maintenance and supply depot.
- Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 15,983 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 13,692 in 2009 and 14,686 in 2010.
- In addition to being known as "Pierre Regional Airport", another name for PIR is "Pierre Army Airfield".
- The furthest airport from Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,493 miles (16,887 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Until June 30, 2006, service on Great Lakes Airlines to Denver was subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.
- The closest airport to Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) is Mobridge Municipal Airport (MBG), which is located 81 miles (130 kilometers) N of PIR.
- Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) has 2 runways.
Facts about Yamagata Airport (GAJ):
- In addition to being known as "Yamagata Airport", another name for GAJ is "山形空港".
- Yamagata Airport (GAJ) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Yamagata Airport (GAJ) is Sendai Airport (SDJ), which is located 35 miles (56 kilometers) ESE of GAJ.
- During the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, American troops used Yamagata Airport as a base for transporting fuel and materials to the disaster areas.
- Because of Yamagata Airport's relatively low elevation of 345 feet, planes can take off or land at Yamagata 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 Yamagata Airport (GAJ) is Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG), which is located 11,606 miles (18,679 kilometers) away in Rio Grande, Brazil.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 80.61 miles (129.73 km) N | Mobridge Municipal Airport (MBG) | Mobridge, South Dakota, United States |     |
| 2 | 101.59 miles (163.50 km) E | Huron Regional Airport (HON) | Huron, South Dakota, United States | |
| 3 | 106.26 miles (171.01 km) S | Miller Field (VTN) | Valentine, Nebraska, United States | |
| 4 | 117.18 miles (188.58 km) NE | Aberdeen Regional AirportAberdeen Army Airfield (ABR) | Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 119.20 miles (191.83 km) ESE | Mitchell Municipal Airport (MHE) | Mitchell, South Dakota, United States | |
| 6 | 122.23 miles (196.70 km) NNE | Ashley Municipal Airport (ASY) | Ashley, North Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 125.48 miles (201.94 km) S | Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) | Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States | |
| 8 | 138.94 miles (223.59 km) W | Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | |
| 9 | 139.19 miles (224.01 km) W | Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | |
| 10 | 145.54 miles (234.23 km) SW | Pine Ridge Airport (XPR) | Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 11 | 154.63 miles (248.86 km) SSE | O'Neill Municipal Airport (ONL) | O'Neill, Nebraska, United States | |
| 12 | 158.23 miles (254.64 km) ENE | Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) | Watertown, South Dakota, United States | |
| 13 | 158.67 miles (255.35 km) NE | Britton Municipal Airport (TTO) | Britton, South Dakota, United States | |
| 14 | 160.53 miles (258.35 km) E | Madison Municipal Airport (XMD) | Madison, South Dakota, United States | |
| 15 | 166.62 miles (268.15 km) N | Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS) | Bismarck, North Dakota, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,492.88 miles (16,886.61 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,426.91 miles (16,780.44 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,403.42 miles (16,742.63 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,388.07 miles (16,717.94 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,378.56 miles (16,702.63 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,355.72 miles (16,665.88 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 10,333.12 miles (16,629.50 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,329.76 miles (16,624.10 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,325.79 miles (16,617.70 km) SE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 10 | 10,320.12 miles (16,608.59 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,309.86 miles (16,592.06 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,304.74 miles (16,583.83 km) SE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 13 | 10,293.59 miles (16,565.89 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,287.90 miles (16,556.72 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,240.43 miles (16,480.34 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 35.08 miles (56.45 km) ESE | Sendai Airport (SDJ) | Natori, Japan | |
| 2 | 41.94 miles (67.49 km) NW | Shonai Airport (SYO) | Yamagata, Japan | |
| 3 | 75.31 miles (121.20 km) WSW | Niigata Airport (KIJ) | Niigata, Japan | |
| 4 | 81.37 miles (130.96 km) NNE | Hanamaki Airport (HNA) | Morioka, Honshū, Japan | |
| 5 | 81.90 miles (131.80 km) S | Fukushima Airport (FKS) | Sugawa, Fukushima, Japan | |
| 6 | 83.56 miles (134.48 km) N | Akita Airport (AXT) | Akita, Japan | |
| 7 | 122.99 miles (197.93 km) N | Odate-Noshiro Airport (ONJ) | Kitaakita, Akita, Japan | |
| 8 | 133.94 miles (215.56 km) SSW | Utsunomiya Air Field (QUT) | Nikkō / Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan | |
| 9 | 158.99 miles (255.87 km) NNE | JMSDF Hachinohe Air Base (HHE) | Hachinohe, Honshū, Japan | |
| 10 | 161.28 miles (259.56 km) N | Aomori Airport (AOJ) | Aomori, Japan | |
| 11 | 167.18 miles (269.05 km) NNE | Misawa Air Base 三沢飛行場 Misawa Hikōjō (MSJ) | Misawa, Aomori, Japan | |
| 12 | 182.87 miles (294.30 km) S | Narita International Airport (NRT) | Narita (near Tokyo), Japan | |
| 13 | 200.18 miles (322.15 km) S | Tokyo International Airport (HND) | Tokyo, Honshū, Japan | |
| 14 | 205.36 miles (330.49 km) SW | Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) | Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan | |
| 15 | 212.76 miles (342.41 km) SW | Toyama Airport (TOY) | Toyama, Toyama, Japan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,606.38 miles (18,678.60 km) ESE | Rio Grande Regional Airport (RIG) | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| 2 | 11,583.62 miles (18,641.98 km) ESE | Pelotas International Airport (PET) | Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 3 | 11,562.82 miles (18,608.50 km) SE | Diomício Freitas/Forquilhinha Airport (CCM) | Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 4 | 11,558.74 miles (18,601.94 km) SE | Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 5 | 11,546.05 miles (18,581.51 km) ESE | Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport (PDP) | Maldonado/Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay | |
| 6 | 11,538.09 miles (18,568.71 km) ESE | Treinta y Tres Airport (TYT) | Treinta y Tres, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay | |
| 7 | 11,533.46 miles (18,561.26 km) SE | Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) | Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 8 | 11,515.45 miles (18,532.27 km) ESE | Cerro Largo International Airport (MLZ) | Melo, Cerro Largo, Uruguay | |
| 9 | 11,495.82 miles (18,500.68 km) E | Carrasco/General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport (MVD) | Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| 10 | 11,485.26 miles (18,483.69 km) ESE | Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport (BGX) | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| 11 | 11,485.09 miles (18,483.42 km) E | Villa Gesell Airport (VLG) | Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 12 | 11,483.77 miles (18,481.29 km) SE | Navegantes Airport (NVT) | Navegantes, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 13 | 11,479.30 miles (18,474.10 km) SE | Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo Airport (LAJ) | Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| 14 | 11,475.19 miles (18,467.49 km) ESE | Cerro Largo International Airport (VCH) | Vichadero, Rivera, Uruguay | |
| 15 | 11,463.08 miles (18,447.99 km) E | Astor Piazzolla International Airport (MDQ) | Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina | |