Nonstop flight route between Port Vila, Vanuatu and Shemya, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from VLI to SYA:
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- About this route
- VLI Airport Information
- SYA Airport Information
- Facts about VLI
- Facts about SYA
- Map of Nearest Airports to VLI
- List of Nearest Airports to VLI
- Map of Furthest Airports from VLI
- List of Furthest Airports from VLI
- Map of Nearest Airports to SYA
- List of Nearest Airports to SYA
- Map of Furthest Airports from SYA
- List of Furthest Airports from SYA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), Port Vila, Vanuatu and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,877 miles (or 7,849 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 Bauerfield International Airport and Eareckson Air Station, 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 Bauerfield International Airport and Eareckson Air Station. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | VLI / NVVV |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | Port Vila, Vanuatu |
| GPS Coordinates: | 17°41'57"S by 168°19'10"E |
| Area Served: | Port Vila, Vanuatu |
| Operator/Owner: | Airports Vanuatu Limited |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 68 feet (21 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VLI |
| More Information: | VLI Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SYA / PASY |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | Shemya, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 52°42'43"N by 174°6'48"E |
| Operator/Owner: | U.S. Air Force |
| Airport Type: | Military |
| Elevation: | 97 feet (30 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SYA |
| More Information: | SYA Maps & Info |
Facts about Bauerfield International Airport (VLI):
- In addition to being known as "Bauerfield International Airport", another name for VLI is "Port Vila International Airport".
- On 25 March 1942, the Army sent about 500 men to Efate from Nouméa, and the 4th Defense Battalion, 45th Marines, arrived on 8 April.
- The base was disestablished and abandoned in February 1946.
- Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) is Siwo Airport (EAE), which is located 42 miles (68 kilometers) N of VLI.
- Because of Bauerfield International Airport's relatively low elevation of 68 feet, planes can take off or land at Bauerfield 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.
- The furthest airport from Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) is Letfotar Airport (MOM), which is nearly antipodal to Bauerfield International Airport (meaning Bauerfield International Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Letfotar Airport), and is located 12,383 miles (19,928 kilometers) away in Moudjeria, Mauritania.
Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):
- 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.
- In 1966 the Air Defense Command 9th Air Division assumed jurisdiction of the base.
- 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.
- There is also an NDB, TACAN and a VOR on the island.
- The Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
- 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.
- 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.
