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):
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
- 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.
- 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 airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
| 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 | |