Nonstop flight route between Palmdale, California, United States and Sion, Switzerland:
Departure Airport:
(34°37'45"N by 118°5'3"W)
Arrival Airport:
(46°13'10"N by 7°19'36"E)
Distance from PMD to SIR:
5,899.78 miles (9,494.75 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- PMD Airport Information
- SIR Airport Information
- Facts about PMD
- Facts about SIR
- Map of Nearest Airports to PMD
- List of Nearest Airports to PMD
- Map of Furthest Airports from PMD
- List of Furthest Airports from PMD
- Map of Nearest Airports to SIR
- List of Nearest Airports to SIR
- Map of Furthest Airports from SIR
- List of Furthest Airports from SIR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD), Palmdale, California, United States and Sion Airport (SIR), Sion, Switzerland would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,900 miles (or 9,495 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 Palmdale Regional Airport and Sion 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 Palmdale Regional Airport and Sion Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PMD / KPMD |
| Airport Name: | Palmdale Regional Airport |
| Location: | Palmdale, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°37'45"N by 118°5'3"W |
| Area Served: | Palmdale, California |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military (Joint Use) |
| Elevation: | 2543 feet (775 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PMD |
| More Information: | PMD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SIR / LSGS |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Sion, Switzerland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 46°13'10"N by 7°19'36"E |
| Area Served: | Sion, Switzerland |
| Elevation: | 1585 feet (483 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SIR |
| More Information: | SIR Maps & Info |
Facts about Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD):
- Both the Air Force and its aircraft contractors needed a location away from major population centers - due to sonic booms, other noises and security concerns - but close enough to the major centers of aircraft design and production, while having excellent flying weather the year around.
- In late 2008 Palmdale expressed interest in assuming operations at Palmdale Airport, including management of the terminal, taxiways, and parking, from LAWA.
- Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) has 3 runways.
- During the 1990s, airlines operated out of the Palmdale Regional Airport, which consisted of the terminal and parking lot on leased land.
- The furthest airport from Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,436 miles (18,405 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- The origins of Palmdale Regional Airport go to the early 1930s, when a small airstrip was built in the desert.
- After several airlines were unable to sustain operations at Palmdale, the terminal was remodeled and reopened in May 2007.
- The closest airport to Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF), which is located only 11 miles (17 kilometers) NW of PMD.
Facts about Sion Airport (SIR):
- The closest airport to Sion Airport (SIR) is Aosta Valley Airport (AOT), which is located 33 miles (54 kilometers) S of SIR.
- The furthest airport from Sion Airport (SIR) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Sion Airport (meaning Sion Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,188 miles (19,615 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Sion Airport (SIR) has 2 runways.
- In addition to being known as "Sion Airport", other names for SIR include "Aéroport de Sion" and "LSGS /LSMS".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.85 miles (17.46 km) NW | General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF) | Lancaster, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 22.22 miles (35.77 km) NNE | Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) | Edwards, California, United States | |
| 3 | 29.95 miles (48.21 km) N | Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) | Mojave, California, United States | |
| 4 | 31.71 miles (51.03 km) SW | Whiteman Airport (WHP) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 5 | 33.50 miles (53.91 km) SSW | Bob Hope Airport (BUR) | Burbank, California, United States | |
| 6 | 37.09 miles (59.68 km) SW | Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Van Nuys, California, United States | |
| 7 | 37.65 miles (60.59 km) S | San Gabriel Valley (El Monte) Airport (EMT) | El Monte, California, United States | |
| 8 | 39.94 miles (64.28 km) E | Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) | Victorville, California, United States | |
| 9 | 40.30 miles (64.86 km) NNW | Tehachapi Municipal Airport (TSP) | Tehachapi, California, United States | |
| 10 | 40.97 miles (65.94 km) SSE | Brackett Field (POC) | La Verne, California, United States | |
| 11 | 42.34 miles (68.13 km) SSE | Cable Airport (CCB) | Upland, California, United States | |
| 12 | 47.29 miles (76.10 km) SSW | Santa Monica Airport (SMO) | Santa Monica, California, United States | |
| 13 | 48.26 miles (77.67 km) SE | LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Ontario (near Los Angeles), California, United States | |
| 14 | 50.88 miles (81.89 km) SSW | Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) | Hawthorne, California, United States | |
| 15 | 50.93 miles (81.97 km) SSW | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,436.33 miles (18,404.95 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,422.33 miles (18,382.41 km) SSE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,410.70 miles (18,363.70 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,405.45 miles (18,355.25 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,324.03 miles (18,224.22 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,200.81 miles (18,025.92 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,196.09 miles (18,018.32 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,157.09 miles (17,955.55 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,059.82 miles (17,799.01 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,031.77 miles (17,753.87 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,029.40 miles (17,750.05 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,015.26 miles (17,727.30 km) ESE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,013.45 miles (17,724.39 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,003.76 miles (17,708.79 km) ESE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,988.60 miles (17,684.40 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 33.31 miles (53.61 km) S | Aosta Valley Airport (AOT) | Aosta, Italy | |
| 2 | 40.64 miles (65.41 km) NW | Lausanne Airport (QLS) | Lausanne, Switzerland | |
| 3 | 42.49 miles (68.38 km) SW | Megève Aerodrome (MVV) | Megève, France | |
| 4 | 48.55 miles (78.14 km) N | Bern Airport (BRN) | Bern, Switzerland | |
| 5 | 50.66 miles (81.53 km) W | Annemasse Aerodrome (QNJ) | Annemasse, France | |
| 6 | 58.20 miles (93.66 km) W | Geneva International Airport (GVA) | Geneva, Switzerland | |
| 7 | 65.86 miles (106.00 km) SSW | Courchevel Airport (CVF) | Courchevel, France | |
| 8 | 66.71 miles (107.36 km) SSW | Méribel Airport (MFX) | Meribel, France | |
| 9 | 71.98 miles (115.84 km) SSE | Turin Airport (TRN) | Turin, Italy | |
| 10 | 75.96 miles (122.25 km) NE | Emmen Swiss Air Base (EML) | Emmen, Lucerne, Switzerland | |
| 11 | 77.30 miles (124.41 km) E | Lugano Airport (LUG) | Lugano, Agno, Switzerland | |
| 12 | 78.50 miles (126.34 km) ESE | Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) | Milano, Italy | |
| 13 | 80.19 miles (129.05 km) WSW | Chambéry Airport (CMF) | Chambéry, France | |
| 14 | 90.13 miles (145.05 km) NW | Besançon - La Vèze Aerodrome (QBQ) | Besançon / La Vèze, France | |
| 15 | 91.13 miles (146.66 km) NNW | Montbéliard - Courcelles Aerodrome (XMF) | Montbéliard, France | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,188.10 miles (19,614.80 km) SE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,749.62 miles (18,909.14 km) ESE | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,732.10 miles (18,880.94 km) SE | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,730.83 miles (18,878.89 km) SE | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,727.65 miles (18,873.78 km) ESE | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,721.62 miles (18,864.07 km) ESE | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,719.38 miles (18,860.46 km) ESE | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,710.67 miles (18,846.45 km) ESE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,693.26 miles (18,818.43 km) ESE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,689.24 miles (18,811.97 km) E | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,681.75 miles (18,799.91 km) ESE | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,666.63 miles (18,775.57 km) SE | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,663.50 miles (18,770.54 km) E | Ashburton Aerodrome (ASG) | Ashburton, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,656.56 miles (18,759.37 km) ESE | Nelson AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū (NSN) | Nelson, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,654.53 miles (18,756.10 km) SE | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |