Nonstop flight route between Valdosta, Georgia, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(30°46'53"N by 83°16'33"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from VLD to MER:
2,167.59 miles (3,488.38 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- VLD Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about VLD
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to VLD
- List of Nearest Airports to VLD
- Map of Furthest Airports from VLD
- List of Furthest Airports from VLD
- 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 Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD), Valdosta, Georgia, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,168 miles (or 3,488 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 Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield and Castle Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | VLD / KVLD |
| Airport Name: | Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield |
| Location: | Valdosta, Georgia, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 30°46'53"N by 83°16'33"W |
| Area Served: | Valdosta, Georgia |
| Operator/Owner: | Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 203 feet (62 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VLD |
| More Information: | VLD 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 Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD):
- Because of Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield's relatively low elevation of 203 feet, planes can take off or land at Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield 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.
- Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD) has 3 runways.
- Valdosta Regional Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Valdosta, a city in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States.
- The furthest airport from Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD) is Kalbarri Airport (KAX), which is located 11,359 miles (18,281 kilometers) away in Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Army Auxiliary Airfield (VLD) is Moody Air Force Base (VAD), which is located only 14 miles (22 kilometers) NNE of VLD.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- EPA investigations have been completed at multiple areas of contamination including landfills, discharge areas, chemical disposal areas, fire training areas, fuel spill areas, and polychlorinated biphenyl spill areas.
- 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.
- 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 13.79 miles (22.20 km) NNE | Moody Air Force Base (VAD) | Valdosta, Georgia, United States |     |
| 2 | 35.35 miles (56.89 km) NW | Spence Airport (MUL) | Moultrie, Georgia, United States | |
| 3 | 36.84 miles (59.29 km) WNW | Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI) | Thomasville, Georgia, United States | |
| 4 | 37.63 miles (60.57 km) NW | Moultrie Municipal Airport (MGR) | Moultrie, Georgia, United States | |
| 5 | 46.47 miles (74.79 km) NNW | Henry Tift Myers Airport (TMA) | Tifton, Georgia, United States | |
| 6 | 52.20 miles (84.01 km) SSW | Perry-Foley AirportPerry Army Airfield (FPY) | Perry, Florida, United States | |
| 7 | 58.72 miles (94.51 km) SE | Lake City Gateway Airport (LCQ) | Lake City, Florida, United States | |
| 8 | 61.35 miles (98.73 km) ENE | Waycross-Ware County AirportWaycross Army Airfield (AYS) | Waycross, Georgia, United States | |
| 9 | 69.20 miles (111.36 km) WSW | Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) | Tallahassee, Florida, United States | |
| 10 | 75.26 miles (121.11 km) NW | Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (ABY) | Albany, Georgia, United States | |
| 11 | 79.83 miles (128.47 km) S | Cross City Airport (CTY) | Cross City, Florida, United States | |
| 12 | 81.79 miles (131.64 km) W | Decatur County Industrial Air Park (BGE) | Bainbridge, Georgia, United States | |
| 13 | 93.86 miles (151.04 km) NNE | Telfair-Wheeler Airport (MQW) | McRae, Georgia, United States | |
| 14 | 96.34 miles (155.04 km) SE | Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) | Gainesville, Florida, United States | |
| 15 | 96.49 miles (155.28 km) ESE | Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,359.40 miles (18,281.13 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,359.05 miles (18,280.58 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,350.95 miles (18,267.53 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,346.69 miles (18,260.68 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 11,344.01 miles (18,256.37 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 11,328.57 miles (18,231.53 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 11,325.42 miles (18,226.45 km) WSW | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 11,325.25 miles (18,226.18 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 11,314.43 miles (18,208.77 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 11,305.32 miles (18,194.10 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 11,300.15 miles (18,185.78 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 11,298.22 miles (18,182.68 km) W | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 11,282.24 miles (18,156.96 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 11,278.26 miles (18,150.56 km) W | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 11,213.76 miles (18,046.75 km) WSW | RAAF Learmonth (LEA) | Exmouth, Western Australia, 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 | |