New Netbeans Usertrying to do something- probably the wrong way

Question

I am working on a program that will eventually calculate the flight distance between two cities using latitude and longitude. I am trying to develop this with a GUI wherein the user will choose two cities from two combo boxes. My first step is get the names of the cities from an input text file. Then I would like to populate a linked list with the values from the file, which also includes values for the latitude and longitude. I am using Netbeans to develop this program, and I understand that instead of a LinkedList it would be better to use a List but I am figuring things out one at time. So once I get the names and other data into the LinkedList, I would like to put just the names into another array to use for the items in the combo box. At first I just want to get the airport names into one combo box, just to see if I can do it before moving on. I am open to any suggestions on making improvements to the program, but I have hit a snag. The program will compile but when I run it several NullPointerException errors occur and I am not sure why. Also I tried to debug the program to see if any values were being moved into the Linked List and the array, but the debugger doesn't stop at the lines where I put the breakpoints <inside the try statement>. It does stop at the line that starts with Filereader when I put breakpoint there, but when I continue to the next line It skips to the next method, and the errors occur, and the program ends.
There is a lot of code, thanks in advance to anyone willing to sort out this mess.
* AirportTestUI.java
* Created on March 5, 2008, 8:48 AM
package my.airporttest;
import java.util.Scanner;        //imports needed classes to the project.
import java.io.FileReader;
import java.util.LinkedList;
import java.io.IOException;
public class AirportTestUI extends javax.swing.JFrame {
        static String name;
        static double lat;
        static double lon;
        static LinkedList <Airport> airportsll = new LinkedList <Airport>();
        static String airportArray[];
        static int i;
    /** Creates new form AirportTestUI */
    public AirportTestUI() {
        initComponents();
    /** This method is called from within the constructor to
     * initialize the form.
     * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is
     * always regenerated by the Form Editor.
    // <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
    private void initComponents() {
        jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        jComboBox1 = new javax.swing.JComboBox();
        jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        jPanel1.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Distance Calculator"));
        jComboBox1.setModel(new javax.swing.DefaultComboBoxModel(airportArray));
        jLabel1.setText("source");
        javax.swing.GroupLayout jPanel1Layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(jPanel1);
        jPanel1.setLayout(jPanel1Layout);
        jPanel1Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(16, 16, 16)
                .addComponent(jLabel1)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addComponent(jComboBox1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addContainerGap(270, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        jPanel1Layout.setVerticalGroup(
            jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING)
                    .addComponent(jLabel1)
                    .addComponent(jComboBox1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                .addContainerGap(197, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
        getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
        layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .addComponent(jPanel1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                .addContainerGap())
        layout.setVerticalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .addComponent(jPanel1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addContainerGap(55, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        pack();
    }// </editor-fold>
     * @param args the command line arguments
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        try
            FileReader infile = new FileReader("intl_airports.txt");
            Scanner fin = new Scanner(infile);
            while ( fin.hasNext())
                i = 0;
                name = fin.next();
                lat = fin.nextDouble();
                lon = fin.nextDouble();
                Airport a = new Airport(name, lat, lon);
                airportsll.add(a);
                airportArray[i] = name;
                i++;
        catch (IOException e)
        java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                new AirportTestUI().setVisible(true);
    // Variables declaration - do not modify
    private javax.swing.JComboBox jComboBox1;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel1;
    private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
    // End of variables declaration
package my.airporttest;
public class Flight
    final double radius = 6372.795;
    Airport src;
    Airport dst;
    public Flight(Airport src, Airport dst)
        this.src = src;
        this.dst = dst;
    public double getDistance()
        return (radius * Math.acos(Math.sin(src.getLat()*Math.sin(dst.getLat()
                + Math.cos(src.getLat()*Math.cos(dst.getLat()*Math.cos(dst.getLon()
                -src.getLon())))))));
package my.airporttest;
public class Airport
    String name;
    int num;
    double latitude;
    double longitude;
    public Airport()
       name = "";
       latitude = 0;
       longitude = 0;
    public Airport(String name, double latitude, double longitude)
        this.name = name;
        this.latitude = latitude;
        this.longitude = longitude;
    public double getLat() {return latitude;}
    public double getLon() {return longitude;}
    public String getName() {return name;}
TED STEVENS ANCHORAGE INTL     1.07     -2.62
FAIRBANKS INTL     1.13     -2.58
JUNEAU INTL     1.02     -2.35
KETCHIKAN INTL     0.97     -2.3
BIRMINGHAM INTL     0.59     -1.51
ARKANSAS INTL     0.63     -1.57
SMITH'S INTL     0.6     -1.61
PAGO PAGO INTL     0.25     -2.98
LAUGHLIN/BULLHEAD INTL     0.61     -2
BISBEE DOUGLAS INTL     0.55     -1.91
NOGALES INTL     0.55     -1.93
LONE MOUNTAIN INTL     0.55     -1.93
PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL     0.58     -1.95
TUCSON INTL     0.56     -1.94
YUMA MCAS/YUMA INTL     0.57     -2
CALEXICO INTL     0.57     -2.02
FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL     0.64     -2.09
LOS ANGELES INTL     0.59     -2.07
METROPOLITAN OAKLAND INTL     0.66     -2.13
ONTARIO INTL     0.59     -2.05
PALM SPRINGS INTL     0.59     -2.03
SACRAMENTO INTL     0.68     -2.12
SAN BERNARDINO INTL     0.6     -2.05
SAN DIEGO INTL     0.57     -2.05
SAN FRANCISCO INTL     0.66     -2.14
NORMAN Y. MINETA SAN JOSE INTL     0.65     -2.13
DENVER INTL     0.7     -1.83
WINE GLASS INTL     0.66     -1.81
BRADLEY INTL     0.73     -1.27
WASHINGTON DULLES INTL     0.68     -1.35
FREEFLIGHT INTL     0.5     -1.43
DAYTONA BEACH INTL     0.51     -1.41
FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL     0.46     -1.4
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTL     0.46     -1.43
ST LUCIE COUNTY INTL     0.48     -1.4
JACKSONVILLE INTL     0.53     -1.43
KEY WEST INTL     0.43     -1.43
LEESBURG INTL     0.5     -1.43
MELBOURNE INTL     0.49     -1.41
MIAMI INTL     0.45     -1.4
BLACKCREEK INTL     0.52     -1.43
SHADY INTL     0.51     -1.43
HELICOPTERS INTL     0.5     -1.42
ORLANDO INTL     0.5     -1.42
ORLANDO SANFORD INTL     0.5     -1.42
PANAMA CITY-BAY CO INTL     0.53     -1.5
SARASOTA/BRADENTON INTL     0.48     -1.44
ST PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER INTL     0.49     -1.44
TAMPA INTL     0.49     -1.44
PALM BEACH INTL     0.47     -1.4
HARTSFIELD - JACKSON ATLANTA INTL     0.59     -1.47
WILSON INTL     0.59     -1.48
MIDVILLE INTL     0.57     -1.44
SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD INTL     0.56     -1.42
HILO INTL     0.34     -2.71
HONOLULU INTL     0.37     -2.76
DES MOINES INTL     0.72     -1.63
ECKHART INTL     0.86     -2.03
BOLINGBROOK'S CLOW INTL     0.73     -1.54
CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL     0.73     -1.53
CHICAGO O'HARE INTL     0.73     -1.53
CHICAGO/ROCKFORD INTL     0.74     -1.56
GELFIUS INTL     0.67     -1.55
LAWRENCEVILLE-VINCENNES INTL     0.68     -1.53
QUAD CITY INTL     0.72     -1.58
SUE ROCK INTL     0.74     -1.56
FORT WAYNE INTL     0.72     -1.49
GARY/CHICAGO INTL     0.73     -1.53
INDIANAPOLIS INTL     0.69     -1.51
WRIGHT INTL     0.69     -1.78
CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTL     0.68     -1.48
LITTLE MOUNT INTL     0.66     -1.49
ALEXANDRIA INTL     0.55     -1.62
CHENNAULT INTL     0.53     -1.63
LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTL     0.52     -1.58
GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL     0.74     -1.24
BANGOR INTL     0.78     -1.2
HOULTON INTL     0.8     -1.18
LORING INTL     0.82     -1.18
BISHOP INTL     0.75     -1.46
GERALD R. FORD INTL     0.75     -1.49
KALAMAZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTL     0.74     -1.49
SAWYER INTL     0.81     -1.53
OAKLAND COUNTY INTL     0.74     -1.46
ST CLAIR COUNTY INTL     0.75     -1.44
MBS INTL     0.76     -1.47
CHIPPEWA COUNTY INTL     0.81     -1.47
BAUDETTE INTL     0.85     -1.65
DULUTH INTL     0.82     -1.61
FUDPUCKER INTL     0.78     -1.63
FALLS INTL     0.85     -1.63
B & D FLYERS INTL     0.76     -1.64
ROCHESTER INTL     0.77     -1.61
WEIDEMAN INTL     0.82     -1.6
KANSAS CITY INTL     0.69     -1.65
LAMBERT-ST LOUIS INTL     0.68     -1.58
STENNIS INTL     0.53     -1.56
GULFPORT-BILOXI INTL     0.53     -1.55
JACKSON-EVERS INTL     0.56     -1.57
TRENT LOTT INTL     0.53     -1.55
BILLINGS LOGAN INTL     0.8     -1.89
WOKAL FIELD/GLASGOW INTL     0.84     -1.86
GREAT FALLS INTL     0.83     -1.94
GLACIER PARK INTL     0.84     -1.99
MISSOULA INTL     0.82     -1.99
WHETSTONE INTL     0.86     -1.97
ROSS INTL     0.86     -1.95
CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL     0.61     -1.41
PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL     0.63     -1.4
RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL     0.63     -1.38
WILMINGTON INTL     0.6     -1.36
HECTOR INTL     0.82     -1.69
GRAND FORKS INTL     0.84     -1.7
MINOT INTL     0.84     -1.77
SLOULIN FLD INTL     0.84     -1.81
ATLANTIC CITY INTL     0.69     -1.3
NEWARK LIBERTY INTL     0.71     -1.29
LAS CRUCES INTL     0.56     -1.87
MC CARRAN INTL     0.63     -2.01
RENO/TAHOE INTL     0.69     -2.09
ALBANY INTL     0.75     -1.29
BUFFALO NIAGARA INTL     0.75     -1.37
NENO INTL     0.74     -1.34
SULLIVAN COUNTY INTL     0.73     -1.31
JOHN F KENNEDY INTL     0.71     -1.29
STEWART INTL     0.72     -1.29
NIAGARA FALLS INTL     0.75     -1.38
OGDENSBURG INTL     0.78     -1.32
PLATTSBURGH INTL     0.78     -1.28
GREATER ROCHESTER INTL     0.75     -1.36
SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL     0.75     -1.33
WATERTOWN INTL     0.77     -1.33
AKRON FULTON INTL     0.72     -1.42
CLEVELAND-HOPKINS INTL     0.72     -1.43
PORT COLUMBUS INTL     0.7     -1.45
RICKENBACKER INTL     0.69     -1.45
JAMES M COX DAYTON INTL     0.7     -1.47
WAGNER INTL     0.7     -1.47
TULSA INTL     0.63     -1.67
WEEDPATCH INTL     0.64     -1.71
PORTLAND INTL     0.8     -2.14
INSHALLAH INTL     0.77     -2.08
LEHIGH VALLEY INTL     0.71     -1.32
HARRISBURG INTL     0.7     -1.34
HILLING INTL     0.71     -1.36
PHILADELPHIA INTL     0.7     -1.31
PITTSBURGH INTL     0.71     -1.4
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON INTL     0.72     -1.32
LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTL     0.32     -1.15
CHARLESTON AFB/INTL     0.57     -1.4
GILBERT INTL     0.59     -1.42
GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG INTL     0.61     -1.44
MYRTLE BEACH INTL     0.59     -1.38
PERRY INTL     0.59     -1.42
MEMPHIS INTL     0.61     -1.57
NASHVILLE INTL     0.63     -1.51
ALICE INTL     0.48     -1.71
RICK HUSBAND AMARILLO INTL     0.61     -1.78
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL     0.53     -1.7
BROWNSVILLE/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INTL     0.45     -1.7
CORPUS CHRISTI INTL     0.48     -1.7
DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTL     0.57     -1.69
DEL RIO INTL     0.51     -1.76
MAVERICK COUNTY MEMORIAL INTL     0.5     -1.75
LIBERTY HILL INTL     0.55     -1.7
EDINBURG INTL     0.46     -1.71
EL PASO INTL     0.56     -1.86
FORT WORTH MEACHAM INTL     0.57     -1.7
WEESE INTL     0.58     -1.68
VALLEY INTL     0.46     -1.7
VALLEY INTL     0.46     -1.7
ULTRALIGHT INTL     0.58     -1.7
DAN JONES INTL     0.52     -1.67
LAJITAS INTL     0.51     -1.81
LAREDO INTL     0.48     -1.74
LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTL     0.59     -1.78
MC ALLEN MILLER INTL     0.46     -1.71
MIDLAND INTL     0.56     -1.78
PRESIDIO LELY INTL     0.52     -1.82
SAN ANTONIO INTL     0.52     -1.72
SAN PATRICIO INTL     0.49     -1.71
SAM LITTLE INTL     0.57     -1.71
SALT LAKE CITY INTL     0.71     -1.95
LOTUS INTL     0.66     -1.37
MACHIPONGO INTL     0.65     -1.32
NEW CASTLE INTL     0.65     -1.4
NEWPORT NEWS/WILLIAMSBURG INTL     0.65     -1.34
NORFOLK INTL     0.64     -1.33
RICHMOND INTL     0.65     -1.35
BURLINGTON INTL     0.78     -1.28
BELLINGHAM INTL     0.85     -2.14
ETHEL INTL     0.81     -2.14
GRANT CO INTL     0.82     -2.08
WILLIAM R FAIRCHILD INTL     0.84     -2.16
JEFFERSON COUNTY INTL     0.84     -2.14
BOEING FIELD/KING COUNTY INTL     0.83     -2.13
SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL     0.83     -2.13
GRAND VIEW INTL     0.84     -2.15
SPOKANE INTL     0.83     -2.05
CRANBERRY INTL     0.8     -1.56
AUSTIN STRAUBEL INTL     0.78     -1.54
CRASH IN INTL     0.75     -1.53
GENERAL MITCHELL INTL     0.75     -1.53
MORRISONVILLE INTL     0.76     -1.56
PLAINFIELD INTL     0.77     -1.56
NATRONA COUNTY INTL     0.75     -1.86

Answer 1

If you want some advice. I'd chuck the GUI aside until you get the basics down. And give some thought to less static. You have too much reliance on static members
which isn't helping you and is going to make your code more difficult as time goes on.
The most pressing issue you have right now though is that I don't see airportArray[] being initialized before you try and use it in main. So it would still be null at that
point and blow up with a NullPointerException