Why do we need Nautical Miles?

Question

Can’t we just use the metric or imperial system? why is there a need to use this measurement that is seemingly coming from chopping the earth into half and dividing its circumference by 360 degrees, and then calculating a minute of arc of it?

Also what did I just say? The way this measurement is made makes no sense

In: 0

Answer 1

Planes track their speeds and distances in nautical miles.

Say you have two planes flying from New York to LA. One is flying at 31,000 feet and the other is at 38,000 feet. To arrive at the same time, the higher plane has to travel faster.

If both planes travel at 500 nautical miles/hr they will arrive at the same time. but if they both travel at 500 miles/hr, the lower plane will get there faster due to the fact that the higher plane is actually has a larger distance to travel in the air. Just like taking the outside corner of a turn is a longer distance.

So if air traffic control wants to know how long it will take for a plane to arrive based on speed and location, it’s much simpler to just already have everything in nautical miles instead of trying to do a bunch of math to account for altitude.

Answer 2

Planes track their speeds and distances in nautical miles.

Say you have two planes flying from New York to LA. One is flying at 31,000 feet and the other is at 38,000 feet. To arrive at the same time, the higher plane has to travel faster.

If both planes travel at 500 nautical miles/hr they will arrive at the same time. but if they both travel at 500 miles/hr, the lower plane will get there faster due to the fact that the higher plane is actually has a larger distance to travel in the air. Just like taking the outside corner of a turn is a longer distance.

So if air traffic control wants to know how long it will take for a plane to arrive based on speed and location, it’s much simpler to just already have everything in nautical miles instead of trying to do a bunch of math to account for altitude.