Nonstop flight route between Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB), Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 3,587 miles (or 5,772 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 Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base 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 Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base and Castle Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB):

• Because of Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base's relatively low elevation of 0 feet, planes can take off or land at Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base 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 Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) is Barrow Island Airport (BWB), which is nearly antipodal to Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (meaning Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Barrow Island Airport), and is located 12,261 miles (19,732 kilometers) away in Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia.
• In addition to being known as "Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base", other names for SPB include "St. Thomas Seaplane Base" and "VI22".
• Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) has 2 runways.
• The closest airport to Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) is Cyril E. King Airport (STT), which is located only 2 miles (3 kilometers) W of SPB.

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
• 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.
• Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
• 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.
• 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.