Nonstop flight route between Santa Maria, California, United States and Alula, Somalia:
Departure Airport:
(34°53'56"N by 120°27'26"W)
Arrival Airport:
(11°57'30"N by 50°44'53"E)
Distance from SMX to ALU:
9,148.39 miles (14,722.86 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SMX Airport Information
- ALU Airport Information
- Facts about SMX
- Facts about ALU
- Map of Nearest Airports to SMX
- List of Nearest Airports to SMX
- Map of Furthest Airports from SMX
- List of Furthest Airports from SMX
- Map of Nearest Airports to ALU
- List of Nearest Airports to ALU
- Map of Furthest Airports from ALU
- List of Furthest Airports from ALU
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States and Alula Airport (ALU), Alula, Somalia would travel a Great Circle distance of 9,148 miles (or 14,723 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 Santa Maria Public Airport and Alula 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 Santa Maria Public Airport and Alula Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SMX / KSMX |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Santa Maria, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°53'56"N by 120°27'26"W |
| Area Served: | Santa Maria, California |
| Operator/Owner: | Santa Maria Public Airport District |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 261 feet (80 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SMX |
| More Information: | SMX Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | ALU / HCMA |
| Airport Name: | Alula Airport |
| Location: | Alula, Somalia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 11°57'30"N by 50°44'53"E |
| Area Served: | Alula, Somalia |
| Operator/Owner: | Puntland Ministry for Civil Aviation and Airports |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 6 feet (2 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ALU |
| More Information: | ALU Maps & Info |
Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):
- Because of Santa Maria Public Airport's relatively low elevation of 261 feet, planes can take off or land at Santa Maria Public 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 Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG), which is located only 13 miles (21 kilometers) SSW of SMX.
- Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
- During its use by the military Santa Maria AAF also controlled Estrella Army Airfield, near Paso Robles as an auxiliary airfield to support the pilot training activity.
- The furthest airport from Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,466 miles (18,453 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
- A 4,000-square-foot baggage claim facility opened in 2007.
Facts about Alula Airport (ALU):
- The furthest airport from Alula Airport (ALU) is Pukarua Airport (PUK), which is located 11,759 miles (18,924 kilometers) away in Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia.
- Because of Alula Airport's relatively low elevation of 6 feet, planes can take off or land at Alula 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 Alula Airport (ALU) is Candala Airport (CXN), which is located 65 miles (105 kilometers) WSW of ALU.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.10 miles (21.08 km) SSW | Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG) | Lompoc, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 16.13 miles (25.95 km) S | Lompoc Airport (LPC) | Lompoc, California, United States | |
| 3 | 25.58 miles (41.17 km) NNW | San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) | San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.61 miles (47.66 km) SE | Santa Ynez Airport (SQA) | Santa Ynez, California, United States | |
| 5 | 33.64 miles (54.14 km) NNW | O'Sullivan Army Heliport (CSL) | Camp San Luis Obispo, California, United States | |
| 6 | 47.93 miles (77.14 km) SE | Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 7 | 54.32 miles (87.42 km) N | Paso Robles Municipal AirportEstrella Army Airfield (PRB) | Paso Robles, California, United States | |
| 8 | 65.32 miles (105.13 km) NNW | Roberts Army Heliport (SYL) | Camp Roberts, San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | |
| 9 | 65.65 miles (105.65 km) SSE | Santa Cruz Island Airport (SZN) | Santa Barbara, California, United States | |
| 10 | 82.86 miles (133.35 km) ENE | Shafter Airport (MIT) | Shafter, California, United States | |
| 11 | 85.96 miles (138.33 km) SE | Oxnard Airport (OXR) | Oxnard, California, United States | |
| 12 | 87.27 miles (140.45 km) ENE | Meadows Field (BFL) | Bakersfield, California, United States | |
| 13 | 87.83 miles (141.35 km) N | New Coalinga Municipal Airport (CLG) | Coalinga, California, United States | |
| 14 | 88.05 miles (141.70 km) ESE | Santa Paula Airport (SZP) | Santa Paula, California, United States | |
| 15 | 93.18 miles (149.96 km) SE | Naval Air Station Point Mugu (NTD) | Point Mugu, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,466.02 miles (18,452.72 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,438.42 miles (18,408.31 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 3 | 11,430.70 miles (18,395.89 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 4 | 11,422.70 miles (18,383.00 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 5 | 11,364.97 miles (18,290.10 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 6 | 11,305.52 miles (18,194.43 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,272.20 miles (18,140.80 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,239.97 miles (18,088.94 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,125.51 miles (17,904.74 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,119.83 miles (17,895.59 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,114.82 miles (17,887.53 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,101.77 miles (17,866.53 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,101.17 miles (17,865.56 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,071.72 miles (17,818.17 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 11,068.20 miles (17,812.50 km) SSE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.24 miles (104.99 km) WSW | Candala Airport (CXN) | Candala, Somalia | |
| 2 | 118.02 miles (189.93 km) WSW | Bender Qassim International Airport (BSA) | Boosaaso, Somalia | |
| 3 | 208.39 miles (335.37 km) NNW | Riyan Airport (MKX) | Mukalla, Yemen | |
| 4 | 245.16 miles (394.55 km) WSW | Erigavo Airport (ERA) | Erigavo, Somalia | |
| 5 | 306.49 miles (493.25 km) NNW | Sayun AirportSeiyun Airport (GXF) | Seiyun, Yemen | |
| 6 | 307.79 miles (495.35 km) NNE | Al Ghaydha Airport (AAY) | Al Ghaydah, Yemen | |
| 7 | 318.83 miles (513.10 km) NW | Ataq Airport (AXK) | Ataq, Yemen | |
| 8 | 390.09 miles (627.79 km) WSW | Burao Airport (BUO) | Burao, Somalia | |
| 9 | 390.22 miles (628.00 km) WNW | Beihan Airport (BHN) | Beihan, Yemen | |
| 10 | 390.62 miles (628.63 km) W | Aden International Airport (ADE) | Aden, Yemen | |
| 11 | 408.28 miles (657.06 km) WSW | Berbera Airport (BBO) | Berbera, Somalia | |
| 12 | 416.18 miles (669.77 km) NNE | Salalah Airport (SLL) | Salalah, Oman | |
| 13 | 422.34 miles (679.69 km) SSW | Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport (GLK) | Galcaio, Somalia | |
| 14 | 460.95 miles (741.82 km) WNW | Ta'izz International Airport (TAI) | Ta'izz, Yemen | |
| 15 | 481.07 miles (774.21 km) SSW | Obbia Airport (CMO) | Obbia, Somalia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,758.86 miles (18,924.00 km) SE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 11,757.45 miles (18,921.73 km) ESE | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 11,626.36 miles (18,710.77 km) SE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 11,612.28 miles (18,688.11 km) ESE | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 11,583.49 miles (18,641.77 km) SSE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 11,570.24 miles (18,620.44 km) SE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 11,549.81 miles (18,587.57 km) ESE | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 11,506.59 miles (18,518.01 km) ESE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 11,421.16 miles (18,380.53 km) ESE | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 11,301.67 miles (18,188.22 km) ESE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 11,292.82 miles (18,173.99 km) E | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 11,288.49 miles (18,167.02 km) ESE | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 11,280.53 miles (18,154.20 km) E | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 11,258.76 miles (18,119.17 km) ESE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 11,248.92 miles (18,103.33 km) ESE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |