Nonstop flight route between La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(28°37'35"N by 17°45'20"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from SPC to MER:
5,677.59 miles (9,137.17 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- SPC Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about SPC
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to SPC
- List of Nearest Airports to SPC
- Map of Furthest Airports from SPC
- List of Furthest Airports from SPC
- 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 La Palma Airport (SPC), La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,678 miles (or 9,137 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 La Palma 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 La Palma 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: | SPC / GCLA |
| Airport Name: | La Palma Airport |
| Location: | La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°37'35"N by 17°45'20"W |
| Area Served: | La Palma |
| Operator/Owner: | Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 108 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SPC |
| More Information: | SPC 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 La Palma Airport (SPC):
- The closest airport to La Palma Airport (SPC) is La Gomera Airport (GMZ), which is located 53 miles (85 kilometers) SE of SPC.
- The furthest airport from La Palma Airport (SPC) is Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH), which is nearly antipodal to La Palma Airport (meaning La Palma Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Lord Howe Island Airport), and is located 12,161 miles (19,570 kilometers) away in Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia.
- Because of La Palma Airport's relatively low elevation of 108 feet, planes can take off or land at La Palma 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.
- La Palma Airport (SPC) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.
- 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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 52.74 miles (84.88 km) SE | La Gomera Airport (GMZ) | Alajeró / San Sebastián, Canary Islands, Spain |     |
| 2 | 82.42 miles (132.64 km) ESE | Tenerife-South Airport (TFS) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 3 | 86.38 miles (139.01 km) E | Tenerife North Airport (TFN) | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 4 | 151.91 miles (244.48 km) ESE | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) | Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 5 | 236.51 miles (380.62 km) E | Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) | Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 6 | 252.27 miles (405.99 km) E | Lanzarote Airport (ACE) | Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
| 7 | 286.99 miles (461.87 km) NNE | Madeira Airport (FNC) | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 8 | 295.15 miles (474.99 km) ESE | Hassan I Airport El Aaiún Airport (EUN) | El Aaiún (Laayoune), Morocco | |
| 9 | 318.19 miles (512.08 km) NNE | Porto Santo Airport (PXO) | Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal | |
| 10 | 357.47 miles (575.29 km) SSE | Dakhla Airport (VIL) | Dakhla, Western Sahara | |
| 11 | 400.40 miles (644.37 km) E | Tan Tan Airport (TTA) | Tan-Tan, Morocco | |
| 12 | 515.21 miles (829.14 km) ENE | Agadir – Al Massira Airport (AGA) | Agadir, Morocco | |
| 13 | 516.96 miles (831.96 km) SE | Fderik Airport (FGD) | Fderik, Mauritania | |
| 14 | 519.44 miles (835.95 km) ENE | Essaouira-Mogador Airport (ESU) | Essaouira, Morocco | |
| 15 | 533.50 miles (858.58 km) S | Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB) | Nouadhibou, Mauritania | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,160.54 miles (19,570.44 km) SE | Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH) | Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,091.02 miles (19,458.56 km) W | Norfolk Island Airport (NLK) | Norfolk Island, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,923.90 miles (19,189.61 km) SSW | Nouméa Magenta Airport (GEA) | Nouméa, New Caledonia | |
| 4 | 11,917.19 miles (19,178.81 km) SSW | Tontouta International Airport (NOU) | Noumea, New Caledonia | |
| 5 | 11,910.65 miles (19,168.29 km) E | Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) | Ballina, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,904.78 miles (19,158.83 km) E | Gold Coast Airport (OOL) | Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,901.96 miles (19,154.31 km) E | Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (EVH) | Evans Head, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,892.39 miles (19,138.90 km) E | Lismore Airport (LSY) | Lismore, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,888.93 miles (19,133.32 km) SSW | Koné Airport (KNQ) | Koné, New Caledonia | |
| 10 | 11,875.68 miles (19,112.00 km) E | Clarence Valley Regional Airport (GFN) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,875.59 miles (19,111.87 km) ESE | Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) | Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,873.64 miles (19,108.72 km) E | Brisbane Airport (BNE) | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,864.13 miles (19,093.41 km) SSW | Koumac Airport (KOC) | Koumac, New Caledonia | |
| 14 | 11,863.89 miles (19,093.04 km) E | Caloundra Airport (CUD) | Caloundra, Queensland, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,859.45 miles (19,085.88 km) ESE | Sunshine-Coast-Airport (MCY) | Marcoola, Queensland, 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 | |