Nonstop flight route between Santa Maria, California, United States and Zaranj, Afghanistan:
Departure Airport:
(34°53'56"N by 120°27'26"W)
Arrival Airport:
(30°58'10"N by 61°52'0"E)
Distance from SMX to ZAJ:
7,883.23 miles (12,686.79 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SMX Airport Information
- ZAJ Airport Information
- Facts about SMX
- Facts about ZAJ
- 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 ZAJ
- List of Nearest Airports to ZAJ
- Map of Furthest Airports from ZAJ
- List of Furthest Airports from ZAJ
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, United States and Zaranj Airport (ZAJ), Zaranj, Afghanistan would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,883 miles (or 12,687 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 Zaranj 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 Zaranj 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: | ZAJ / OAZJ |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Zaranj, Afghanistan |
| GPS Coordinates: | 30°58'10"N by 61°52'0"E |
| Area Served: | Zaranj, Nimruz Province |
| Operator/Owner: | Afghanistan |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 1581 feet (482 meters) |
| View all routes: | Routes from ZAJ |
| More Information: | ZAJ Maps & Info |
Facts about Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX):
- Santa Maria Public Airport is three miles south of Santa Maria, in northern Santa Barbara County, California.
- 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.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Santa Maria Public Airport", another name for SMX is "Capt. G. Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria Army Airfield".
- 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.
- Other enhancements include a new passenger terminal holding room that opened February 2008.
- Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) has 2 runways.
Facts about Zaranj Airport (ZAJ):
- The closest airport to Zaranj Airport (ZAJ) is Zabol Airport (ACZ), which is located 21 miles (34 kilometers) WNW of ZAJ.
- In addition to being known as "Zaranj Airport", other names for ZAJ include "Zaranj Airport (Zaranj)" and "KDH".
- The furthest airport from Zaranj Airport (ZAJ) is Mataveri International Airport (IPC), which is located 11,849 miles (19,069 kilometers) away in Easter Island, Chile.
| 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 | 21.08 miles (33.93 km) WNW | Zabol Airport (ACZ) | Zabol, Iran | |
| 2 | 98.09 miles (157.86 km) N | Farah Airport د فراه هوائی ډګر (FAH) | Farah, Afghanistan | |
| 3 | 118.07 miles (190.01 km) SSW | Zahedan Airport (ZAH) | Zahedan, Iran | |
| 4 | 153.04 miles (246.30 km) ENE | Bost Airport د بوست هوائی ډګر (BST) | Lashkar Gah (Bost), Afghanistan | |
| 5 | 202.49 miles (325.88 km) NW | Birjand International Airport (XBJ) | Birjand, Iran | |
| 6 | 209.83 miles (337.70 km) SE | Dalbandin Airport (DBA) | Dalbandin, Pakistan | |
| 7 | 224.89 miles (361.92 km) N | Herat International Airport (HEA) | Herat, Afghanistan | |
| 8 | 238.23 miles (383.40 km) E | Kabul International Airport (KDH) | Kandahar, Afghanistan | |
| 9 | 242.34 miles (390.01 km) WSW | Bam Airport (BXR) | Bam, Iran | |
| 10 | 260.79 miles (419.70 km) ENE | Tarin Kowt Airport (TII) | Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan | |
| 11 | 286.81 miles (461.57 km) NNE | Qala i Naw Airport د قلعه نوهوائی ډګر (LQN) | Qala i Naw, Afghanistan | |
| 12 | 296.16 miles (476.63 km) W | Kerman International Airport (KER) | Kerman, Iran | |
| 13 | 305.85 miles (492.22 km) E | Quetta International Airport (UET) | Quetta, Pakistan | |
| 14 | 309.34 miles (497.84 km) SSE | Panjgur Airport (PJG) | Panjgur, Pakistan | |
| 15 | 315.43 miles (507.63 km) NE | Chaghcharan Airport د چغچران هوائی ډګر (CCN) | Chaghcharan, Afghanistan | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,848.94 miles (19,068.98 km) WSW | Mataveri International Airport (IPC) | Easter Island, Chile | |
| 2 | 11,272.62 miles (18,141.49 km) ESE | Totegegie Airport (GMR) | Mangareva, Gambier Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 3 | 10,987.88 miles (17,683.24 km) ESE | Tureira Airport (ZTA) | Tureia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 4 | 10,966.49 miles (17,648.82 km) ESE | Pukarua Airport (PUK) | Pukarua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 5 | 10,918.36 miles (17,571.36 km) ESE | Nukutavake Airport (NUK) | Nukutavake, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 6 | 10,754.16 miles (17,307.09 km) ESE | Hao Airport (HOI) | Hao, Tuamotu Island, French Polynesia | |
| 7 | 10,660.80 miles (17,156.85 km) ESE | Fangatau Airport (FGU) | Fangatau, French Polynesia | |
| 8 | 10,588.82 miles (17,041.02 km) ESE | Raroia Airport (RRR) | Raroia, French Polynesia | |
| 9 | 10,549.37 miles (16,977.53 km) ESE | Makemo Airport (MKP) | Makemo, French Polynesia | |
| 10 | 10,479.14 miles (16,864.49 km) ESE | Anaa Airport (AAA) | Anaa, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 11 | 10,451.19 miles (16,819.52 km) SE | Atuona Airport (AUQ) | Atuona, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 12 | 10,420.29 miles (16,769.79 km) ESE | Fakarava Airport (FAV) | Fakarava, Society Islands, French Polynesia | |
| 13 | 10,360.00 miles (16,672.77 km) ESE | Apataki Airport (APK) | Apataki, French Polynesia | |
| 14 | 10,335.65 miles (16,633.57 km) ESE | Arutua Airport (AXR) | Arutua, Tuamotus, French Polynesia | |
| 15 | 10,331.48 miles (16,626.87 km) ESE | Manihi Airport (XMH) | Manihi, French Polynesia | |