Nonstop flight route between Sanford, Maine, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(43°23'38"N by 70°42'29"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from SFM to MER:
2,617.12 miles (4,211.84 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SFM Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about SFM
- Facts about MER
- 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 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,617 miles (or 4,212 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 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport 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: | 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: | 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 Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM):
- 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.
- 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.
- Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) has 2 runways.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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 closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- It serves one school, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, which specializes in training foreign pilots, from the People's Republic of China.
- 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.
| 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 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States | |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |