Nonstop flight route between Zinder, Niger and Atwater, California, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Zinder Airport (ZND), Zinder, Niger and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 7,621 miles (or 12,264 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 Zinder 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 Zinder Airport and Castle Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Zinder Airport (ZND):

• The furthest airport from Zinder Airport (ZND) is Pago Pago International Airport (PPG), which is nearly antipodal to Zinder Airport (meaning Zinder Airport is almost on the exact opposite side of the Earth from Pago Pago International Airport), and is located 12,396 miles (19,950 kilometers) away in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
• Zinder Airport (ZND) currently has only 1 runway.
• The closest airport to Zinder Airport (ZND) is Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN), which is located 124 miles (199 kilometers) SSW of ZND.

Facts about Castle Airport (MER):

• The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
• 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 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.
• Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
• Castle Airport covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
• The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of 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.