Flight Distance Calculator Between Airports

Haversine Formula:

\[ d = 2r \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\phi}{2}\right) + \cos(\phi_1)\cos(\phi_2)\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Airport 1 Latitude:

Airport 1 Longitude:

Airport 2 Latitude:

Airport 2 Longitude:

Distance (miles):

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1. What is the Flight Distance Calculator?

The Flight Distance Calculator calculates the great-circle distance between two airports using their latitude and longitude coordinates. This represents the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere, which is the actual flight path aircraft follow.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ d = 2r \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\phi}{2}\right) + \cos(\phi_1)\cos(\phi_2)\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Where:

\( d \) — Distance between points
\( r \) — Earth's radius (3958.8 miles)
\( \phi_1, \phi_2 \) — Latitudes of two points
\( \lambda_1, \lambda_2 \) — Longitudes of two points
\( \Delta\phi \) — Difference in latitudes
\( \Delta\lambda \) — Difference in longitudes

Explanation: The Haversine formula accounts for the spherical shape of the Earth to calculate the shortest distance between two points on its surface.

3. Importance of Airport Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate airport distance calculations are essential for flight planning, fuel estimation, flight time calculations, and route optimization in aviation operations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the latitude and longitude coordinates for both airports 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 distance and actual flight distance?
A: Great-circle distance is the shortest path, while actual flight distance may be longer due to air traffic control, weather avoidance, and airspace restrictions.

Q2: How accurate is the Haversine formula?
A: The Haversine formula is very accurate for most practical purposes, assuming a spherical Earth model with radius 3958.8 miles.

Q3: Can I use this for international flights?
A: Yes, the calculator works for any two points on Earth regardless of location or distance.

Q4: Why are the results in miles?
A: Miles are commonly used in aviation in many countries. To convert to kilometers, multiply by 1.60934.

Q5: Where can I find airport coordinates?
A: Airport coordinates are available from aviation authorities, flight planning software, and online aviation databases.