Nonstop flight route between Poughkeepsie, New York, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from POU to MER:
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- About this route
- POU Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about POU
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to POU
- List of Nearest Airports to POU
- Map of Furthest Airports from POU
- List of Furthest Airports from POU
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Dutchess County Airport (POU), Poughkeepsie, New York, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,476 miles (or 3,984 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 Dutchess County Airport and Castle Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | POU / KPOU |
Airport Name: | Dutchess County Airport |
Location: | Poughkeepsie, New York, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 41°37'36"N by 73°53'3"W |
Area Served: | Poughkeepsie, New York |
Operator/Owner: | Dutchess County |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 165 feet (50 meters) |
# of Runways: | 3 |
View all routes: | Routes from POU |
More Information: | POU Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | MER / KMER |
Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from MER |
More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Facts about Dutchess County Airport (POU):
- The closest airport to Dutchess County Airport (POU) is Stewart International Airport (SWF), which is located only 14 miles (23 kilometers) SW of POU.
- Because of Dutchess County Airport's relatively low elevation of 165 feet, planes can take off or land at Dutchess County 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 Dutchess County Airport (POU) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,714 miles (18,852 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Dutchess County Airport was built by the United States Department of Commerce in the 1930s and was used for pilot training during World War II by the US Army Air Forces.
- Dutchess County Airport (POU) has 3 runways.
- A Flight Service Station was opened at the airport, but closed during the 1990s.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle 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 EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.