Nonstop flight route between San Juan Island, Washington, United States and East London, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(48°36'29"N by 123°9'34"W)
Arrival Airport:
(33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E)
Distance from RCE to ELS:
10,594.91 miles (17,050.81 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- RCE Airport Information
- ELS Airport Information
- Facts about RCE
- Facts about ELS
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCE
- List of Nearest Airports to RCE
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCE
- List of Furthest Airports from RCE
- Map of Nearest Airports to ELS
- List of Nearest Airports to ELS
- Map of Furthest Airports from ELS
- List of Furthest Airports from ELS
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE), San Juan Island, Washington, United States and East London Airport (ELS), East London, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,595 miles (or 17,051 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 Roche Harbor Seaplane Base and East London 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 Roche Harbor Seaplane Base and East London Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCE / |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | San Juan Island, Washington, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 48°36'29"N by 123°9'34"W |
| Area Served: | Roche Harbor, Washington |
| Operator/Owner: | Roche Harbor Resort |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 0 feet (0 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCE |
| More Information: | RCE Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ELS / FAEL |
| Airport Name: | East London Airport |
| Location: | East London, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 33°2'5"S by 27°49'17"E |
| Area Served: | East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 436 feet (133 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from ELS |
| More Information: | ELS Maps & Info |
Facts about Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE):
- The furthest airport from Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 10,722 miles (17,256 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- In addition to being known as "Roche Harbor Seaplane Base", another name for RCE is "W39".
- The closest airport to Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE) is Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS), which is located only 8 miles (14 kilometers) SE of RCE.
- Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (RCE) has 2 runways.
- Because of Roche Harbor Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Roche Harbor Seaplane Base 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.
Facts about East London Airport (ELS):
- The furthest airport from East London Airport (ELS) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,569 miles (18,618 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- East London Airport (ELS) has 2 runways.
- Because of East London Airport's relatively low elevation of 436 feet, planes can take off or land at East London 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 East London Airport (ELS) is Port Alfred Airport (AFD), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ELS.
- In 1965 the airport was again moved, this time to its present site, 9 km west of the city centre.
- Passenger flights were undertaken by two de Havilland Moth planes on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays, weather permitting.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 8.43 miles (13.56 km) SE | Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS) | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States |     |
| 2 | 8.58 miles (13.81 km) SE | Friday Harbor Airport (FRD) | Friday Harbor, Washington, United States | |
| 3 | 9.30 miles (14.97 km) E | Westsound Seaplane Base (WSX) | Westsound, Orcas Island, Washington, United States | |
| 4 | 10.06 miles (16.20 km) NNW | Bedwell Harbour Water Aerodrome (YBW) | Bedwell Harbour, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 5 | 12.45 miles (20.04 km) WNW | Victoria International Airport (YYJ) | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 6 | 12.74 miles (20.50 km) ESE | Fishermans Bay/LPS Seaplane Base (LPS) | Lopez Island, Washington, United States | |
| 7 | 13.31 miles (21.41 km) ENE | Orcas Island Airport (ESD) | Eastsound, Washington, United States | |
| 8 | 13.57 miles (21.84 km) E | Rosario Seaplane Base (RSJ) | Orcas Island, Washington, United States | |
| 9 | 16.35 miles (26.31 km) SW | Esquimalt Airport (YPF) | Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 10 | 16.51 miles (26.57 km) SW | Victoria Inner Harbour Airport (YWH) | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 11 | 17.08 miles (27.48 km) ESE | Center Island Airport (CWS) | Center Island, Washington, United States | |
| 12 | 19.00 miles (30.58 km) NNW | Mayne Island Water Aerodrome (YAV) | Miner's Bay, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 13 | 22.80 miles (36.70 km) NW | Ganges Water Aerodrome (YGG) | Ganges, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 14 | 23.96 miles (38.56 km) ESE | Anacortes Airport (OTS) | Anacortes, Washington, United States | |
| 15 | 27.45 miles (44.17 km) WNW | Duncan Airport (DUQ) | Duncan, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,722.36 miles (17,255.92 km) SSE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 10,658.87 miles (17,153.74 km) SSE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 3 | 10,594.91 miles (17,050.81 km) ESE | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,586.81 miles (17,037.77 km) ESE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,580.38 miles (17,027.43 km) ESE | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,556.17 miles (16,988.47 km) ESE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 7 | 10,550.10 miles (16,978.70 km) SE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 8 | 10,549.87 miles (16,978.33 km) S | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 9 | 10,546.60 miles (16,973.07 km) ESE | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 10 | 10,538.66 miles (16,960.29 km) SE | Richards Bay Airport (RCB) | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 10,524.85 miles (16,938.07 km) ESE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 10,520.26 miles (16,930.68 km) S | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 13 | 10,504.51 miles (16,905.33 km) SE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 14 | 10,489.32 miles (16,880.89 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 15 | 10,486.01 miles (16,875.56 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.15 miles (104.85 km) WSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 2 | 114.31 miles (183.96 km) NNE | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 3 | 143.28 miles (230.59 km) WSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 4 | 210.82 miles (339.28 km) NE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 221.32 miles (356.17 km) N | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 222.73 miles (358.45 km) NNE | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 226.04 miles (363.78 km) N | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 228.78 miles (368.18 km) N | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 247.37 miles (398.09 km) N | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 269.67 miles (433.99 km) NNE | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 279.14 miles (449.23 km) NNE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | 286.72 miles (461.43 km) NNW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 13 | 289.10 miles (465.25 km) N | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 305.60 miles (491.81 km) NE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 15 | 320.45 miles (515.72 km) WSW | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,568.58 miles (18,617.79 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,567.16 miles (18,615.49 km) NNE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,563.78 miles (18,610.05 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,562.20 miles (18,607.51 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,561.78 miles (18,606.84 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,558.95 miles (18,602.28 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,558.59 miles (18,601.70 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,558.30 miles (18,601.24 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,556.31 miles (18,598.04 km) NNE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,554.09 miles (18,594.46 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,549.72 miles (18,587.42 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,545.26 miles (18,580.25 km) NNE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,543.40 miles (18,577.26 km) NNE | Port Allen Airport (PAK) | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,541.15 miles (18,573.63 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |