Nonstop flight route between Safford, Arizona, United States and Pituffik, Greenland:
Departure Airport:
(32°51'11"N by 109°38'6"W)
Arrival Airport:
(76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W)
Distance from SAD to THU:
3,282.99 miles (5,283.45 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SAD Airport Information
- THU Airport Information
- Facts about SAD
- Facts about THU
- Map of Nearest Airports to SAD
- List of Nearest Airports to SAD
- Map of Furthest Airports from SAD
- List of Furthest Airports from SAD
- Map of Nearest Airports to THU
- List of Nearest Airports to THU
- Map of Furthest Airports from THU
- List of Furthest Airports from THU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Safford Regional Airport (SAD), Safford, Arizona, United States and Thule Air Base (THU), Pituffik, Greenland would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,283 miles (or 5,283 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 Safford Regional Airport and Thule Air Base, 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 Safford Regional Airport and Thule Air Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SAD / KSAD |
| Airport Name: | Safford Regional Airport |
| Location: | Safford, Arizona, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 32°51'11"N by 109°38'6"W |
| Area Served: | Safford, Arizona |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Safford |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 3179 feet (969 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SAD |
| More Information: | SAD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | THU / BGTL |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Pituffik, Greenland |
| GPS Coordinates: | 76°31'51"N by 68°42'11"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from THU |
| More Information: | THU Maps & Info |
Facts about Safford Regional Airport (SAD):
- Safford Regional Airport (SAD) has 2 runways.
- In the 1950s Frontier DC-3s stopped at Safford.
- The furthest airport from Safford Regional Airport (SAD) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,434 miles (18,401 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Safford Regional Airport is in Graham County, Arizona three miles east of Safford, which owns it.
- The closest airport to Safford Regional Airport (SAD) is Greenlee County Airport (CFT), which is located 26 miles (41 kilometers) ENE of SAD.
Facts about Thule Air Base (THU):
- Thule became an Air Force Space Command base in 1982.
- In addition to being known as "Thule Air Base", another name for THU is "Thule AB".
- The closest airport to Thule Air Base (THU) is Savissivik Heliport (SVR), which is located 69 miles (111 kilometers) ESE of THU.
- In 1818, Sir John Ross’s expedition made first contact with nomadic Polar Eskimos in the area.
- Late 1950s the DEW 1 to 4 where build as "weather stations", Thule Air Base would act as an supply station for the DYE bases.
- Thule AB was constructed in secret under the code name Operation Blue Jay, but the project was made public in September 1952.
- The furthest airport from Thule Air Base (THU) is Hobart International Airport (HBA), which is located 9,883 miles (15,905 kilometers) away in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- In 1957 construction began on 4 Nike Missile sites around the base, and they and their radar systems were operational by the end of 1958.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 25.61 miles (41.22 km) ENE | Greenlee County Airport (CFT) | Clifton/Morenci, Arizona, United States |     |
| 2 | 69.17 miles (111.32 km) NNW | Whiteriver Airport (WTR) | Whiteriver, Arizona, United States | |
| 3 | 86.84 miles (139.75 km) WSW | Davis–Monthan Air Force Base (DMA) | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| 4 | 87.22 miles (140.37 km) E | Grant County Airport (SVC) | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | |
| 5 | 91.59 miles (147.40 km) WSW | Tucson International Airport (TUS) | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| 6 | 95.67 miles (153.97 km) S | Bisbee Douglas International Airport (DUG) | Bisbee/Douglas, Arizona, United States | |
| 7 | 96.74 miles (155.69 km) SSW | Sierra Vista Municipal Airport (FHU) | Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States | |
| 8 | 97.10 miles (156.27 km) WSW | Marana Regional Airport (AVW) | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| 9 | 99.88 miles (160.74 km) NNW | Show Low Regional Airport (SOW) | Show Low, Arizona, United States | |
| 10 | 101.12 miles (162.74 km) WSW | Pinal Airpark (MZJ) | Marana, Arizona, United States | |
| 11 | 103.93 miles (167.26 km) S | Bisbee Municipal Airport (BSQ) | Bisbee, Arizona, United States | |
| 12 | 104.66 miles (168.43 km) S | Douglas Municipal Airport (DGL) | Douglas, Arizona, United States | |
| 13 | 113.90 miles (183.31 km) NNW | Taylor Airport (TYZ) | Taylor, Arizona, United States | |
| 14 | 116.00 miles (186.68 km) N | St. Johns Industrial Air Park (SJN) | St. Johns, Arizona, United States | |
| 15 | 118.73 miles (191.08 km) ESE | Deming Municipal AirportDeming Army Airfield (DMN) | Deming, New Mexico, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,434.07 miles (18,401.31 km) SSE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 11,276.85 miles (18,148.29 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,223.01 miles (18,061.64 km) SE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 11,206.19 miles (18,034.57 km) SE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,926.08 miles (17,583.78 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,866.25 miles (17,487.49 km) ESE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,809.67 miles (17,396.44 km) ESE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,790.68 miles (17,365.87 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,784.73 miles (17,356.29 km) ESE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,757.03 miles (17,311.71 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,720.24 miles (17,252.50 km) ESE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,675.87 miles (17,181.10 km) SE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,657.72 miles (17,151.89 km) ESE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,648.69 miles (17,137.36 km) SE | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,647.24 miles (17,135.03 km) ESE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 69.00 miles (111.05 km) ESE | Savissivik Heliport (SVR) | Savissivik, Greenland | |
| 2 | 92.13 miles (148.27 km) NNW | Siorapaluk Heliport (SRK) | Siorapaluk, Greenland | |
| 3 | 229.06 miles (368.63 km) W | Grise Fiord Airport (YGZ) | Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 4 | 238.65 miles (384.06 km) ESE | Kullorsuaq Heliport (KHQ) | Kullorsuaq, Greenland | |
| 5 | 262.86 miles (423.04 km) ESE | Nuussuaq Heliport (NSQ) | Nuussuaq, Greenland | |
| 6 | 313.53 miles (504.57 km) SE | Tasiusaq Heliport (TQA) | Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland | |
| 7 | 314.36 miles (505.92 km) SW | Pond Inlet Airport (YIO) | Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 8 | 322.94 miles (519.72 km) SE | Innaarsuit Heliport (IUI) | Innaarsuit, Greenland | |
| 9 | 336.81 miles (542.05 km) NW | Eureka Aerodrome (YEU) | Eureka, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 10 | 344.46 miles (554.35 km) SE | Upernavik Airport (JUV) | Upernavik, Greenland | |
| 11 | 345.57 miles (556.13 km) SE | Aappilattoq Heliport (AOQ) | Aappilattoq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland | |
| 12 | 374.63 miles (602.91 km) SE | Kangersuatsiaq Heliport (KGQ) | Kangersuatsiaq, Greenland | |
| 13 | 376.92 miles (606.58 km) WSW | Nanisivik Airport (YSR) | Nanisivik, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 14 | 381.61 miles (614.14 km) WSW | Arctic Bay Airport (YAB) | Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada | |
| 15 | 417.70 miles (672.23 km) S | Clyde River Airport (YCY) | Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 9,882.84 miles (15,904.85 km) SW | Hobart International Airport (HBA) | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 2 | 9,870.98 miles (15,885.76 km) WSW | Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (SZS) | Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 9,835.86 miles (15,829.25 km) WSW | Invercargill Airport (IVC) | Invercargill, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 9,799.28 miles (15,770.37 km) SW | Launceston Airport (LST) | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 5 | 9,782.86 miles (15,743.95 km) SW | Devonport Airport (DPO) | Devonport, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 6 | 9,779.11 miles (15,737.92 km) SW | Burnie Airport (BWT) | Burnie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 7 | 9,775.29 miles (15,731.77 km) WSW | Dunedin International Airport (DUD) | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 9,775.14 miles (15,731.52 km) SW | Smithton Airport (SIO) | Smithton, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 9 | 9,772.93 miles (15,727.96 km) SW | St Helens Airport (HLS) | St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 10 | 9,772.19 miles (15,726.78 km) SW | George Town Aerodrome (GEE) | George Town, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 11 | 9,741.00 miles (15,676.59 km) WSW | Alexandra Aerodrome (ALR) | Alexandra, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 9,738.17 miles (15,672.03 km) WSW | Queenstown Airport (ZQN) | Queenstown, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 9,727.70 miles (15,655.17 km) WSW | Milford Sound Airport (MFN) | Milford Sound, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 9,723.24 miles (15,648.00 km) SW | King Island Airport (KNS) | Currie, Tasmania, Australia | |
| 15 | 9,710.84 miles (15,628.05 km) WSW | Wanaka Airport (WKA) | Wanaka, New Zealand | |