Nonstop flight route between Sanford, Maine, United States and Buka Island, Papua New Guinea:
Departure Airport:
(43°23'38"N by 70°42'29"W)
Arrival Airport:
(5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E)
Distance from SFM to BUA:
8,634.02 miles (13,895.07 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SFM Airport Information
- BUA Airport Information
- Facts about SFM
- Facts about BUA
- Map of Nearest Airports to SFM
- List of Nearest Airports to SFM
- Map of Furthest Airports from SFM
- List of Furthest Airports from SFM
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUA
- List of Nearest Airports to BUA
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUA
- List of Furthest Airports from BUA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, United States and Buka Island Airport (BUA), Buka Island, Papua New Guinea would travel a Great Circle distance of 8,634 miles (or 13,895 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and Buka Island 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and Buka Island Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SFM / KSFM |
| Airport Name: | Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport |
| Location: | Sanford, Maine, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°23'38"N by 70°42'29"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Town of Sanford |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 244 feet (74 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SFM |
| More Information: | SFM Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUA / AYBK |
| Airport Name: | Buka Island Airport |
| Location: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| GPS Coordinates: | 5°25'19"S by 154°40'21"E |
| Area Served: | Buka Island, Papua New Guinea |
| Operator/Owner: | Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 11 feet (3 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from BUA |
| More Information: | BUA Maps & Info |
Facts about Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM):
- Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) has 2 runways.
- Because of Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 244 feet, planes can take off or land at Sanford Seacoast Regional 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) is Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM), which is located 23 miles (36 kilometers) SSW of SFM.
- The furthest airport from Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,712 miles (18,849 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Buka Island Airport (BUA):
- On 26 July, an Imperial Japanese Navy special detachment was sent to inspect Buka Airfield, but considered it unacceptable as a prospect for a speedily constructed major airfield.
- The furthest airport from Buka Island Airport (BUA) is São Filipe Airport (SFL), which is located 11,781 miles (18,959 kilometers) away in Fogo, Cape Verde.
- The closest airport to Buka Island Airport (BUA) is Nissan Island Airport (IIS), which is located 71 miles (114 kilometers) NNW of BUA.
- Buka Island Airport (BUA) currently has only 1 runway.
- Because of Buka Island Airport's relatively low elevation of 11 feet, planes can take off or land at Buka Island 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.
- Today the airport is the primary air portal into Bougainville, and even 60 years after the war, wreckage from the military use of the airfield by the Japanese and Americans is easily found in the area.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 22.58 miles (36.34 km) SSW | Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM) | Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States |     |
| 2 | 26.52 miles (42.67 km) NE | Portland International Jetport (PWM) | Portland, Maine, United States | |
| 3 | 37.72 miles (60.70 km) WNW | Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI) | Laconia, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 4 | 42.06 miles (67.69 km) WSW | Concord Municipal Airport (CON) | Concord, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 5 | 42.97 miles (69.15 km) NNW | Eastern Slopes Regional Airport (FRY) | Fryeburg, Maine, United States | |
| 6 | 48.58 miles (78.19 km) SW | Manchester–Boston Regional Airport (MHT) | Manchester, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 7 | 49.96 miles (80.40 km) NNE | Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW) | Auburn/Lewiston, Maine, United States | |
| 8 | 51.24 miles (82.46 km) SSW | Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM) | Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 9 | 51.63 miles (83.09 km) NE | Naval Air Station Brunswick (NHZ) | Brunswick, Maine, United States | |
| 10 | 56.93 miles (91.62 km) S | Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY) | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 11 | 58.70 miles (94.47 km) SW | Nashua Airport (ASH) | Nashua, New Hampshire, United States | |
| 12 | 63.34 miles (101.94 km) NE | Wiscasset Airport (ISS) | Wiscasset, Maine, United States | |
| 13 | 70.27 miles (113.09 km) SSW | Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 14 | 72.63 miles (116.88 km) SW | Moore Army Airfield (AYE) | Leominster, Massachusetts, United States | |
| 15 | 72.81 miles (117.17 km) SSW | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,712.18 miles (18,848.87 km) SSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,706.88 miles (18,840.35 km) SSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,696.68 miles (18,823.93 km) SW | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,689.83 miles (18,812.90 km) SSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,663.78 miles (18,770.99 km) SSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,629.74 miles (18,716.21 km) SW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,579.73 miles (18,635.72 km) SSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,577.99 miles (18,632.92 km) SSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,566.03 miles (18,613.67 km) SSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,485.61 miles (18,484.25 km) SW | Esperance Airport (EPR) | Esperance, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,478.48 miles (18,472.77 km) SSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,387.94 miles (18,327.07 km) SSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,384.47 miles (18,321.48 km) SSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,359.25 miles (18,280.89 km) SW | Windarling Airport (WRN) | Windarling, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,358.29 miles (18,279.34 km) SW | Kambalda Airport (KDB) | Kambalda, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 70.73 miles (113.82 km) NNW | Nissan Island Airport (IIS) | Nissan Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 2 | 94.46 miles (152.01 km) SE | Kieta/Aropa Airport (KIE) | Kieta, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 3 | 136.91 miles (220.34 km) SE | Balalae Airport (BAS) | Ballalae, Solomon Islands | |
| 4 | 148.20 miles (238.51 km) SE | Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) | Choiseul Bay, Taro Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 5 | 150.79 miles (242.66 km) SSE | Mono Airport (MNY) | Stirling Island, Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands | |
| 6 | 174.66 miles (281.09 km) WNW | Rabaul Airport (RAB) | Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | |
| 7 | 195.74 miles (315.01 km) NW | Namatanai Airport (ATN) | Namatanai, Papua New Guinea | |
| 8 | 198.38 miles (319.26 km) W | Manguna Airport (MFO) | Manguna, Papua New Guinea | |
| 9 | 216.52 miles (348.46 km) NW | Lihir Island Regional Airport (LNV) | Londolovit, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea | |
| 10 | 218.28 miles (351.28 km) W | Jacquinot Bay Airport (JAQ) | Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea | |
| 11 | 238.34 miles (383.57 km) SE | Nusatupe Airport (GZO) | Gizo / Nusatupe, Western Province, Solomon Islands | |
| 12 | 239.73 miles (385.81 km) ESE | Kaghau Airport (KGE) | Kagau Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 13 | 268.10 miles (431.47 km) SE | Munda Airport (MUA) | Munda, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands | |
| 14 | 288.56 miles (464.39 km) SSW | Guasopa Airport (GAZ) | Guasopa, Papua New Guinea | |
| 15 | 293.54 miles (472.41 km) W | Hoskins Airport (HKN) | Hoskins, Papua New Guinea | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,780.59 miles (18,958.98 km) N | São Filipe Airport (SFL) | Fogo, Cape Verde | |
| 2 | 11,768.57 miles (18,939.63 km) N | Praia International Airport (RAI) | Praia, Cape Verde | |
| 3 | 11,768.55 miles (18,939.59 km) N | Mosteiros Airport (MTI) | Mosteiros, Cape Verde | |
| 4 | 11,749.15 miles (18,908.38 km) NNW | Maio Airport (MMO) | Maio, Cape Verde | |
| 5 | 11,678.23 miles (18,794.25 km) NNW | Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) | Boa Vista, Cape Verde | |
| 6 | 11,678.02 miles (18,793.91 km) NW | Cap Skirring Airport (CSK) | Cap Skirring, Senegal | |
| 7 | 11,671.84 miles (18,783.96 km) WNW | Bubaque Airport (BQE) | Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 8 | 11,662.10 miles (18,768.29 km) N | Preguiça Airport (SNE) | São Nicolau, Cape Verde | |
| 9 | 11,648.17 miles (18,745.87 km) N | Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) | São Vicente, Cape Verde | |
| 10 | 11,647.20 miles (18,744.31 km) NW | Ziguinchor Airport (ZIG) | Ziguinchor, Senegal | |
| 11 | 11,639.22 miles (18,731.47 km) NW | Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | |
| 12 | 11,638.24 miles (18,729.88 km) NNW | Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) | Sal Island, Cape Verde | |
| 13 | 11,631.66 miles (18,719.29 km) NW | Banjul International Airport (BJL) | Banjul, Gambia | |
| 14 | 11,629.96 miles (18,716.56 km) NE | Governador Carlos Wilson Airport (FEN) | Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| 15 | 11,622.66 miles (18,704.82 km) N | Agostinho Neto Airport (NTO) | Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, Cape Verde | |