Flight Miles Calculator

Great Circle Distance between Airports:

\[ d = 2r \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\phi_2 - \phi_1}{2}\right) + \cos(\phi_1) \times \cos(\phi_2) \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\lambda_2 - \lambda_1}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Flight Distance:

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1. What is Great Circle Distance?

The Great Circle Distance is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere, measured along the surface of the sphere. For flight planning, this represents the most efficient route between two airports.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ d = 2r \times \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\phi_2 - \phi_1}{2}\right) + \cos(\phi_1) \times \cos(\phi_2) \times \sin^2\left(\frac{\lambda_2 - \lambda_1}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Where:

\( d \) — Distance between the two points
\( r \) — Radius of the Earth (3958.8 miles)
\( \phi_1, \phi_2 \) — Latitude of point 1 and point 2
\( \lambda_1, \lambda_2 \) — Longitude of point 1 and point 2

Explanation: The formula calculates the shortest distance between two points on a sphere by accounting for the curvature of the Earth.

3. Importance of Flight Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance calculation is crucial for flight planning, fuel estimation, scheduling, and determining optimal routes between airports.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the 3-letter IATA airport codes for both departure and arrival airports. The calculator will determine the great circle distance between them.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between great circle distance and actual flight distance?
A: Great circle distance is the shortest possible route, while actual flight paths may deviate due to air traffic control, weather, or political restrictions.

Q2: Where can I find airport codes?
A: Airport codes (IATA) are available on airline websites, airport websites, or through code lookup tools online.

Q3: Why don't flights always follow the great circle route?
A: Factors like jet streams, restricted airspace, and the need to remain within certain distances from diversion airports may alter the route.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise for spherical coordinates, but actual Earth is an oblate spheroid, causing minor variations.

Q5: Can I use this for any two points on Earth?
A: While the formula works for any coordinates, this calculator is optimized for airport-to-airport distances using their known coordinates.