Nonstop flight route between Santa Maria, California, United States and Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia:
Departure Airport:
(34°53'56"N by 120°27'26"W)
Arrival Airport:
(17°33'24"S by 149°36'41"W)
Distance from SMX to PPT:
4,098.29 miles (6,595.54 km)
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- About this route
- SMX Airport Information
- PPT Airport Information
- Facts about SMX
- Facts about PPT
- 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 PPT
- List of Nearest Airports to PPT
- Map of Furthest Airports from PPT
- List of Furthest Airports from PPT
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States and Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT), Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,098 miles (or 6,596 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 Fa'a'ā International 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 Fa'a'ā International 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: | PPT / NTAA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| GPS Coordinates: | 17°33'24"S by 149°36'41"W |
| Area Served: | Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Operator/Owner: | SETIL - Aéroports |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5 feet (2 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PPT |
| More Information: | PPT Maps & Info |
Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
- 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.
- The extended primary runway at Santa Maria is paved to 8,004 feet, giving the airport the longest civil runway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the central coast and Vandenberg AFB's runway are longer).
- A runway extension opened on May 3, 2012, from 6,304 ft.
- Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
- At one point during the early 1980's Swift Aire Lines, which was based at the nearby San Luis Obispo Airport, was the only airline flying nonstop between Santa Maria and Los Angeles, primarily with Fokker F27 Friendship turboprops which the carrier had purchased new from the manufacturer.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts about Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT):
- Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) is Moorea Airport (MOZ), which is located only 11 miles (18 kilometers) WNW of PPT.
- McDonald's is at terminal 2 and is close to the conveyor belts.
- Air Tahiti has its head office at the airport.
- Because of limited level terrain, rather than leveling large stretches of sloping agricultural land, the airport is built primarily on reclaimed land on the coral reef just off-shore.
- The Mahina Lounge is a small airside lounge, after the security area.
- Because of Fa'a'ā International Airport's relatively low elevation of 5 feet, planes can take off or land at Fa'a'ā International 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 Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) is El Debba Airport (EDB), which is nearly antipodal to Fa'a'ā International Airport (meaning Fa'a'ā International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from El Debba Airport), and is located 12,387 miles (19,935 kilometers) away in El Debba (Al Dabbah), Sudan.
- In addition to being known as "Fa'a'ā International Airport", another name for PPT is "Aéroport International Tahiti Fa'a'ā".
| 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 | 10.97 miles (17.65 km) WNW | Moorea Airport (MOZ) | Moorea, Windward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 2 | 110.82 miles (178.34 km) WNW | Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) | Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 161.02 miles (259.14 km) WNW | Bora Bora Airport (BOB) | Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 190.64 miles (306.80 km) WNW | Maupiti Airport (MAU) | Maupiti, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 195.00 miles (313.82 km) NNE | Mataiva Airport (MVT) | Mataiva, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 252.24 miles (405.94 km) ENE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 254.52 miles (409.60 km) NE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 270.56 miles (435.43 km) E | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 281.39 miles (452.86 km) ENE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 310.40 miles (499.55 km) NE | Ahe Airport (AHE) | Ahe, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 318.95 miles (513.29 km) NE | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 355.58 miles (572.25 km) SSW | Rurutu Airport (RUR) | Rurutu, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 399.07 miles (642.24 km) E | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 483.25 miles (777.71 km) ENE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 536.08 miles (862.74 km) WSW | Akatoka Manava Airport (Mauke Airport) (MUK) | Mauke Island, Cook Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,387.28 miles (19,935.35 km) NW | El Debba Airport (EDB) | El Debba (Al Dabbah), Sudan | |
| 2 | 12,386.54 miles (19,934.16 km) NW | Ad-Dabbah Airport (AAD) | Al Dabbah, Sudan | |
| 3 | 12,326.43 miles (19,837.41 km) N | Dongola Airport (DOG) | Dongola, Sudan | |
| 4 | 12,323.58 miles (19,832.84 km) WNW | Merowe Airport (MWE) | Merowe, Sudan | |
| 5 | 12,239.27 miles (19,697.14 km) NW | Khartoum International Airport (KRT) | Khartoum, Sudan | |
| 6 | 12,195.02 miles (19,625.94 km) W | Atbara Airport (ATB) | Atbara, Sudan | |
| 7 | 12,134.56 miles (19,528.63 km) NNW | Wadi Halfa Airport (WHF) | Wadi Halfa, Sudan | |
| 8 | 12,132.36 miles (19,525.09 km) N | El Obeid Airport (EBD) | El Obeid, Sudan | |
| 9 | 12,094.49 miles (19,464.14 km) NNW | Al Hufalysin Airport (ABS) | Abu Simbel, Egypt | |
| 10 | 12,073.21 miles (19,429.90 km) NNE | Sharq Al-Owainat Airport (GSQ) | Sharq Al-Owainat, Egypt | |
| 11 | 12,029.83 miles (19,360.08 km) WNW | Khashm El Girba Airport (GBU) | Khashm El Girba, Sudan | |
| 12 | 12,015.69 miles (19,337.33 km) WNW | Kassala Airport (KSL) | Kassala, Sudan | |
| 13 | 12,003.54 miles (19,317.78 km) NE | El Fashir Airport (ELF) | El Fasher, Sudan | |
| 14 | 11,970.06 miles (19,263.89 km) NW | Galegu Airport (DNX) | Dinder, Sudan | |
| 15 | 11,969.93 miles (19,263.68 km) WNW | Port Sudan New International Airport (PZU) | Port Sudan, Sudan | |