Nonstop flight route between Shemya, Alaska, United States and Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States and Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY), Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,950 miles (or 3,138 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 relatively short distance between Eareckson Air Station and Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• With the successful completion of the Aleutian Campaign in August 1943, Eleventh Air Force came within striking distance of the Japanese Kurile Islands, the northernmost being 750 miles to the south-southwest of Shemya.
• In July 1973, Raytheon won a contract to build a system called COBRA DANE on Shemya.
• Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station 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 Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
• Additional aircraft and personnel reductions occurred in 1945 and almost all air bases other than Alexi Point, Shemya and Davis in the Aleutians were reduced to caretaker status.
• The aerial photos taken on the raid showed the Japanese were building up forces in the area, transferring aircraft presumably from air bases on Hokkaido.
• The news of the surrender of the Japanese was met with enthusiasm, the biggest topic was "When do we go home?".

Facts about Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY):

• Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY) has 3 runways.
• The closest airport to Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY) is Haines Junction Airport (YHT), which is located 84 miles (135 kilometers) W of YXY.
• Whitehorse is also a major stopover point for private flyers who make the trip to and from Alaska.
• During the September 11, 2001, attacks, two aircraft approaching the United States from Asia were diverted to Whitehorse as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon.
• The furthest airport from Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY) is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), which is located 10,398 miles (16,734 kilometers) away in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• In addition to being known as "Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport", another name for YXY is "Whitehorse/Erik Nielsen International Airport".