Flight Distance Between Airports Calculator

Haversine Formula:

\[ Distance = \sqrt{(\Delta lat)^2 + (\Delta lon \times \cos(lat))^2} \times 60 \times 1.852 \]

Latitude 1:

Longitude 1:

Latitude 2:

Longitude 2:

Flight Distance:

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1. What is Flight Distance Calculation?

Flight distance calculation determines the shortest path between two points on Earth's surface, known as the great circle distance. This is the actual distance aircraft travel between airports, accounting for Earth's curvature.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the great circle distance formula:

\[ Distance = \sqrt{(\Delta lat)^2 + (\Delta lon \times \cos(lat))^2} \times 60 \times 1.852 \]

Where:

\( \Delta lat \) — Difference in latitude (degrees)
\( \Delta lon \) — Difference in longitude (degrees)
\( lat \) — Average latitude (degrees)
60 — Conversion from degrees to nautical miles
1.852 — Conversion from nautical miles to kilometers

Explanation: This formula approximates the Haversine formula and provides accurate results for most flight distance calculations, accounting for Earth's spherical shape.

3. Importance of Flight Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate flight distance calculation is essential for flight planning, fuel estimation, flight time calculation, and airline route optimization. It helps determine the most efficient paths between airports.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude and longitude coordinates in decimal degrees. Latitude ranges from -90° to 90°, longitude from -180° to 180°. Positive values for North/East, negative for South/West.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between great circle and rhumb line distance?
A: Great circle is the shortest path on a sphere, while rhumb line maintains constant bearing. Aircraft follow great circle routes for efficiency.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The formula provides excellent accuracy for most practical purposes, typically within 1% of the exact Haversine formula result.

Q3: Why use nautical miles in aviation?
A: Nautical miles correspond to one minute of latitude, making navigation calculations more intuitive for pilots and navigators.

Q4: Does this account for actual flight paths?
A: This calculates the great circle distance. Actual flight paths may vary due to air traffic control, weather, and airspace restrictions.

Q5: Can I use this for any two points on Earth?
A: Yes, this formula works for any valid geographic coordinates worldwide, providing the shortest surface distance between two points.