Nonstop flight route between Valence, France and Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Departure Airport:
(44°54'56"N by 4°58'6"E)
Arrival Airport:
(18°2'26"N by 63°6'33"W)
Distance from VAF to SXM:
4,281.20 miles (6,889.91 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- VAF Airport Information
- SXM Airport Information
- Facts about VAF
- Facts about SXM
- Map of Nearest Airports to VAF
- List of Nearest Airports to VAF
- Map of Furthest Airports from VAF
- List of Furthest Airports from VAF
- Map of Nearest Airports to SXM
- List of Nearest Airports to SXM
- Map of Furthest Airports from SXM
- List of Furthest Airports from SXM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF), Valence, France and Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,281 miles (or 6,890 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 Valence - Chabeuil Airport and Princess Juliana International 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 Valence - Chabeuil Airport and Princess Juliana International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | VAF / LFLU |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Valence, France |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°54'56"N by 4°58'6"E |
| Area Served: | Valence, Drôme, France |
| Operator/Owner: | Department of Drôme |
| Airport Type: | Public / Military |
| Elevation: | 525 feet (160 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VAF |
| More Information: | VAF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SXM / TNCM |
| Airport Name: | Princess Juliana International Airport |
| Location: | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| GPS Coordinates: | 18°2'26"N by 63°6'33"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Princess Juliana Int'l Airport Holding Company N.V. |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 14 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SXM |
| More Information: | SXM Maps & Info |
Facts about Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF):
- The Portez was a heavy twin-engined fighter.
- Because of Valence - Chabeuil Airport's relatively low elevation of 525 feet, planes can take off or land at Valence - Chabeuil 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.
- In addition to being known as "Valence - Chabeuil Airport", other names for VAF include "Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-23" and "Aéroport de Valence - Chabeuil".
- Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) has 3 runways.
- The furthest airport from Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is nearly antipodal to Valence - Chabeuil Airport (meaning Valence - Chabeuil Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Chatham Islands), and is located 12,333 miles (19,848 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- The closest airport to Valence - Chabeuil Airport (VAF) is Grenoble–Isère Airport (GNB), which is located 36 miles (57 kilometers) NNE of VAF.
Facts about Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM):
- In 1994, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and France signed the Franco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls, which allows for joint Franco-Dutch border controls on so-called "risk flights".
- The closest airport to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) NE of SXM.
- The new four-story terminal building offers 27,000 square metres of floor space and is fully air-conditioned.
- Despite the reputed difficulties in approach, there have been no records of major incidents at the airport, although ALM Flight 980 crashed 30 miles from St.
- If traffic develops as forecast, Phase III of the masterplan will be executed, consisting of an extension of the new terminal building and the construction of a full parallel taxiway system.
- Because of Princess Juliana International Airport's relatively low elevation of 14 feet, planes can take off or land at Princess Juliana International 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.
- PJIA is equipped with VOR/DME and NDB.
- Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) currently has only 1 runway.
- The airport was started as a military airstrip in 1942.
- The furthest airport from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is Karratha Airport (KTA), which is nearly antipodal to Princess Juliana International Airport (meaning Princess Juliana International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Karratha Airport), and is located 12,252 miles (19,718 kilometers) away in Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 35.57 miles (57.24 km) NNE | Grenoble–Isère Airport (GNB) | Grenoble, France |     |
| 2 | 53.81 miles (86.60 km) S | Orange-Caritat Air Base (BA 115) (XOG) | Orange, France | |
| 3 | 54.17 miles (87.18 km) NW | Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport (EBU) | Saint-Étienne / Bouthéon, France | |
| 4 | 55.82 miles (89.84 km) ENE | Alpe d'Huez Airport (AHZ) | Alpe d'Huez, France | |
| 5 | 56.23 miles (90.50 km) N | Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) | Lyon, France | |
| 6 | 56.25 miles (90.53 km) N | Lyon–Bron Airport (LYN) | Lyon, France | |
| 7 | 59.97 miles (96.51 km) WNW | Le Puy - Loudes Airport (LPY) | Le Puy-en-Velay / Loudes, Haute-Loire, France | |
| 8 | 66.88 miles (107.64 km) NE | Chambéry Airport (CMF) | Chambéry, France | |
| 9 | 69.79 miles (112.31 km) S | Avignon - Caumont Airport (AVN) | Avignon, France | |
| 10 | 84.54 miles (136.05 km) SSW | Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes Airport (FNI) | Nîmes-Arles-Camargue, France | |
| 11 | 85.43 miles (137.49 km) ENE | Méribel Airport (MFX) | Meribel, France | |
| 12 | 87.73 miles (141.18 km) ENE | Courchevel Airport (CVF) | Courchevel, France | |
| 13 | 88.51 miles (142.45 km) ESE | Barcelonnette - Saint-Pons Airport (BAE) | Barcelonnette / Saint-Pons, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France | |
| 14 | 90.49 miles (145.63 km) N | Bourg - Ceyzériat Airport (XBK) | Bourg-en-Bresse, France | |
| 15 | 96.13 miles (154.70 km) S | Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (QIE) | Istres, France | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,332.90 miles (19,847.83 km) SE | Chatham Islands (CHT) | Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand | |
| 2 | 11,892.27 miles (19,138.71 km) ESE | Hood Aerodrome (MRO) | Masterton, New Zealand | |
| 3 | 11,877.44 miles (19,114.84 km) SE | Hawke's Bay Airport (NPE) | Napier, New Zealand | |
| 4 | 11,874.85 miles (19,110.67 km) SE | Gisborne Airport (GIS) | Gisborne, New Zealand | |
| 5 | 11,867.99 miles (19,099.63 km) ESE | Wellington International Airport (WLG) | Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 6 | 11,865.64 miles (19,095.85 km) ESE | Palmerston North Airport (PMR) | Palmerston North, New Zealand | |
| 7 | 11,861.33 miles (19,088.91 km) ESE | Kapiti Coast Airport (PPQ) | Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand | |
| 8 | 11,843.83 miles (19,060.76 km) ESE | Kaikoura Aerodrome (KBZ) | Kaikoura, New Zealand | |
| 9 | 11,831.32 miles (19,040.62 km) ESE | Woodbourne Airport (BHE) | Blenheim, New Zealand | |
| 10 | 11,825.78 miles (19,031.70 km) ESE | Wanganui Airport (WAG) | Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 11 | 11,813.61 miles (19,012.12 km) E | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| 12 | 11,811.96 miles (19,009.46 km) SE | Taupo AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Taupō (TUO) | Taupo, New Zealand | |
| 13 | 11,798.91 miles (18,988.46 km) SE | Whakatane Airport (WHK) | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
| 14 | 11,794.44 miles (18,981.27 km) ESE | Nelson AirportTe Papa Waka Rererangi o Whakatū (NSN) | Nelson, New Zealand | |
| 15 | 11,788.30 miles (18,971.38 km) SE | Rotorua International Airport (ROT) | Rotorua, New Zealand | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 5.73 miles (9.22 km) NE | L'Espérance Airport Grand Case Airport (CCE) | Saint Martin, Guadeloupe | |
| 2 | 11.87 miles (19.11 km) NNE | Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) | The Valley, Anguilla | |
| 3 | 19.83 miles (31.92 km) ESE | Gustaf III Airport Saint Barthélemy Airport St. Jean Airport (SBH) | Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Barthélemy | |
| 4 | 28.27 miles (45.50 km) SSW | Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) | Saba, Caribbean Netherlands | |
| 5 | 38.58 miles (62.08 km) SSE | F.D. Roosevelt Airport (EUX) | Sint Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands | |
| 6 | 56.59 miles (91.07 km) SSE | Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| 7 | 67.09 miles (107.97 km) SSE | Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV) | Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
| 8 | 88.87 miles (143.03 km) ESE | Barbuda Codrington Airport (BBQ) | Codrington, Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 9 | 90.93 miles (146.34 km) WNW | Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands | |
| 10 | 98.14 miles (157.94 km) WNW | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) | Beef Island (near Tortola), British Virgin Islands | |
| 11 | 105.36 miles (169.55 km) SE | John A. Osborne Airport (MNI) | Montserrat, British Overseas Territories, United Kingdom | |
| 12 | 106.85 miles (171.96 km) W | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 13 | 106.86 miles (171.98 km) SE | V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) | St. John's, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 14 | 113.68 miles (182.95 km) WSW | Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport (STX) | Christiansted, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands | |
| 15 | 121.96 miles (196.28 km) W | Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base (SPB) | Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 12,252.07 miles (19,717.74 km) S | Karratha Airport (KTA) | Karratha / Dampier, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 12,239.58 miles (19,697.64 km) SW | Port Hedland International Airport (PHE) | Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 12,218.93 miles (19,664.41 km) SSE | Barrow Island Airport (BWB) | Barrow Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 12,171.40 miles (19,587.93 km) SSW | Coolawanyah Station Airport (COY) | Coolawanyah Station, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 12,140.18 miles (19,537.67 km) S | Solomon Airport (SLJ) | Karijini National Park, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 12,105.58 miles (19,482.00 km) S | Tom Price Airport (TPR) | Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 12,094.71 miles (19,464.50 km) SSE | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 12,086.03 miles (19,450.53 km) W | Broome International Airport (BME) | Broome, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 12,084.40 miles (19,447.91 km) SSW | Barimunya Airport (BYP) | Barimunya, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 12,078.03 miles (19,437.65 km) S | Paraburdoo Airport (PBO) | Paraburdoo, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 12,074.69 miles (19,432.28 km) SSW | Coondewanna Airport (CJF) | Coondewanna, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 12,020.39 miles (19,344.89 km) SSW | Newman Airport (ZNE) | Newman, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,988.82 miles (19,294.08 km) W | Derby Airport (DRB) | Derby, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,920.97 miles (19,184.89 km) SSE | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,867.54 miles (19,098.90 km) W | Fitzroy Crossing Airport (FIZ) | Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia | |