Nonstop flight route between Mthatha, South Africa and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(31°32'47"S by 28°40'31"E)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from UTT to MER:
10,647.41 miles (17,135.30 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- UTT Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about UTT
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to UTT
- List of Nearest Airports to UTT
- Map of Furthest Airports from UTT
- List of Furthest Airports from UTT
- 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 Mthatha Airport (UTT), Mthatha, South Africa and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,647 miles (or 17,135 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 Mthatha 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 Mthatha 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: | UTT / FAUT |
| Airport Name: | Mthatha Airport |
| Location: | Mthatha, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°32'47"S by 28°40'31"E |
| Area Served: | Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Operator/Owner: | Provincial Government |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 2429 feet (740 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from UTT |
| More Information: | UTT 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 Mthatha Airport (UTT):
- Mthatha Airport (UTT) currently has only 1 runway.
- The furthest airport from Mthatha Airport (UTT) is Kalaupapa Airport (LUP), which is located 11,642 miles (18,736 kilometers) away in Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States.
- The closest airport to Mthatha Airport (UTT) is Margate Airport (MGH), which is located 109 miles (176 kilometers) ENE of UTT.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- 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 covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- 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 | 109.39 miles (176.05 km) ENE | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |     |
| 2 | 114.31 miles (183.96 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 3 | 114.39 miles (184.10 km) N | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 4 | 123.55 miles (198.83 km) NNW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 5 | 125.17 miles (201.45 km) N | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 6 | 147.60 miles (237.54 km) NW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 7 | 158.26 miles (254.69 km) N | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 158.75 miles (255.49 km) NNW | Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) | Maseru, Lesotho | |
| 9 | 166.52 miles (267.98 km) NE | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 10 | 173.72 miles (279.57 km) SW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 11 | 189.60 miles (305.13 km) NNW | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 196.76 miles (316.66 km) NE | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 13 | 214.85 miles (345.77 km) NNE | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 14 | 220.71 miles (355.19 km) NW | Bloemfontein International Airport (BFN) | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | |
| 15 | 245.11 miles (394.47 km) SW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,642.06 miles (18,736.04 km) NNE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,639.36 miles (18,731.70 km) NNE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,636.25 miles (18,726.68 km) NNE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,635.06 miles (18,724.77 km) NNE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,634.31 miles (18,723.56 km) NNE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,628.23 miles (18,713.77 km) NNE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,627.58 miles (18,712.73 km) NNE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,621.20 miles (18,702.45 km) NNE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,621.20 miles (18,702.45 km) NNE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,620.94 miles (18,702.05 km) NE | Princeville Airport (HPV) | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,615.92 miles (18,693.96 km) NNE | Kalaeloa Airport (NAX) | Kapolei, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,615.88 miles (18,693.90 km) NNE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,611.81 miles (18,687.35 km) NE | Lihue Airport (LIH) | Lihue, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,608.22 miles (18,681.57 km) NNE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,597.70 miles (18,664.64 km) NE | PMRF Barking Sands (BKH) | Kekaha, Hawaii, United States | |
| 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 | |