Nonstop flight route between Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
 
    Arrival Airport:
 
    Distance from RKT to MER:
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- RKT Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about RKT
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to RKT
- List of Nearest Airports to RKT
- Map of Furthest Airports from RKT
- List of Furthest Airports from RKT
- 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT), Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,078 miles (or 13,001 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) and Castle 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) and Castle Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RKT / OMRK | 
| Airport Names: | 
 | 
| Location: | Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates | 
| GPS Coordinates: | 25°36'47"N by 55°56'20"E | 
| Operator/Owner: | Department of Civil Aviation | 
| Airport Type: | Public | 
| Elevation: | 94 feet (29 meters) | 
| # of Runways: | 1 | 
| View all routes: | Routes from RKT | 
| More Information: | RKT 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT):
- Because of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah)'s relatively low elevation of 94 feet, planes can take off or land at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) 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 Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) is Dibba Airport (BYB), which is located only 19 miles (31 kilometers) E of RKT.
- Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) currently has only 1 runway.
- RAK Airways started operating in 2007 but suspended regular operations in 2008 due to the economic crisis.
- The airport reported a 58.5 percent growth in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period of the previous year.
- The furthest airport from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah) (RKT) is Totegegie Airport (GMR), which is located 11,734 miles (18,883 kilometers) away in Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.
- In addition to being known as "Ras Al Khaimah International Airport(Ra's al-Khaymah)", another name for RKT is "مطار رأس الخيمة الدولي".
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- With its central location in the San Joaquin Valley, on the route of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system, and with a large, underdeveloped site, Castle Airport has been submitted as a possible location for the central maintenance facility for the system.




