Nonstop flight route between Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and Shemya, Alaska, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from YRF to SYA:
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- About this route
- YRF Airport Information
- SYA Airport Information
- Facts about YRF
- Facts about SYA
- Map of Nearest Airports to YRF
- List of Nearest Airports to YRF
- Map of Furthest Airports from YRF
- List of Furthest Airports from YRF
- 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 Cartwright Airport (YRF), Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,520 miles (or 7,274 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 Cartwright 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 Cartwright 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: | YRF / CYCA |
Airport Name: | Cartwright Airport |
Location: | Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
GPS Coordinates: | 53°40'56"N by 57°2'30"W |
Operator/Owner: | Government of Newfoundland and Labrador |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 42 feet (13 meters) |
# of Runways: | 1 |
View all routes: | Routes from YRF |
More Information: | YRF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | SYA / PASY |
Airport Names: |
|
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 Cartwright Airport (YRF):
- The furthest airport from Cartwright Airport (YRF) is Albany Airport (ALH), which is located 11,118 miles (17,893 kilometers) away in Albany, Western Australia, Australia.
- Because of Cartwright Airport's relatively low elevation of 42 feet, planes can take off or land at Cartwright 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 Cartwright Airport (YRF) is Black Tickle Airport (YBI), which is located 54 miles (86 kilometers) ESE of YRF.
- Cartwright Airport (YRF) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about Eareckson Air Station (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.
- The limited resources assigned to the Eleventh Air Force meant only a limited number of missions could be carried out over the Kuriles.
- The 404th Bombardment Squadron flew B-24 Liberator heavy bombers along with one Beechcraft AT-7, which was used for navigator training.
- 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.
- In 1966 the Air Defense Command 9th Air Division assumed jurisdiction of the base.
- Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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 addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and " ".
- After the disastrous attack, the focus of Eleventh Air Force was shifted to a defensive posture in the event of retaliatory attacks from the Japanese.
- With the exception of a small station housekeeping unit, Shemya was abandoned after the war.